Black bunting draped the front of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland April 21 as hundreds gathered for an evening Mass of Remembrance in honor of Pope Francis, who died earlier that morning.
While it was known that Pope Francis was in frail health, the news of his death somehow still felt “sudden and surprising,” Archbishop William E. Lori said in his homily.
“A voice of hope, a voice of compassion, has been stilled,” Archbishop Lori said.
He noted the pope’s desire to share the Gospel with everyone and encouraged those gathered to honor the pope’s memory by rededicating themselves to evangelization.
“An outward-looking church will be a church that listens, a church that journeys together and faces difficult decisions,” Archbishop Lori said. “Be open to one another in Christ. Reflect on God’s word and listen to one another in the Holy Spirit.”
Kate Leary was visibly emotional when she left the Mass.
“I am so moved. I loved Pope Francis dearly. He will be missed,” said Leary, a parishioner of Corpus Christi, Bolton Hill (now a part of the nearby Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary). “He was so progressive, so humble. He was the people’s pope.”
Catruse Greer, a parishioner of the cathedral, was always impressed with how Pope Francis “stood his ground, no matter.”
“It was authentic,” Greer said.
His death, according to Jose Rivera, was a big loss, as it will be “difficult to find another one like him.”
“He understood us,” said the parishioner of Sacred Heart, Glyndon. “He was special.”
Christiana Ramos, a parishioner of St. Ignatius, Baltimore, was born and raised Catholic but had left the church as a teenager. Pope Francis, she said, made it a more welcoming environment for “those that had strayed,” noting his teachings of helping others and his ability to talk to both religious and political leaders was inspiring.
“He was a humble pope. He paid attention,” Stephanie Gonzalez, a friend of Ramos and a fellow parishioner of St. Ignatius, Baltimore said. “We’re concerned about the church’s choices. We do have hope.They did choose Pope Francis.”
A woman who asked that only her first name, Gabriela, be used, said she grew up without religion but wanted to attend the Mass because Pope Francis was “a very influential person to billions of people.”
“I specifically like his progressive ideas,” Gabriela said, who walked to the cathedral. “I don’t know the rituals, but I wanted to take the time to commemorate him.”
“I wanted to pay my respects,” said Larry Glose, a parishioner of Ss. Philip and James, Baltimore. “He was very humble and looked out for the poor. He saw everyone as a human being.”
Auxiliary Bishop Adam J. Parker and retired Auxiliary Bishop Denis J. Madden attended the Mass, which featured a portrait of Pope Francis at the front of the cathedral.
Click here to watch a recorded livestream of the Mass.
Email Katie V. Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org
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