Tributes across US, NC to late Pope Francis, as Vatican begins steps for next pope

By
Theresa Opeka
-

Many tributes to Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, have been coming in across the US and in North Carolina.

He was elected as the 266th pope on March 13, 2013.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, the pontiff had several health issues over the years, including hypertension and type 2 diabetes. More recently, he spent nearly 40 days in a Rome hospital for bronchitis and double pneumonia, before being released on March 23.  

In what would be his final acts as pope, Pope Francis gave the traditional Easter blessing from a balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Easter Sunday and greeted the crowd of 50,000 assembled one last time in the popemobile.

His cause of death was a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible cardiovascular collapse. According to Catholic News Agency, Pope Francis made a gesture of farewell with his hand to a Vatican nurse before going into a coma. Vatican officials said the pope did not suffer.

United States Vice President JD Vance was likely the last foreign dignitary to meet with Pope Francis, during a brief meeting on Easter Sunday while on a trip to Rome with his family.

The funeral has been scheduled for 10 am local time, 4 am EDT, at St. Peter’s. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are among the world leaders and dignitaries who will attend.

On Monday, he issued an executive order that all federal and state flags fly at half-staff until sunset on Saturday.

North Carolina Democrat Gov. Josh Stein also gave the order on Monday, along with his condolences.

Others from across North Carolina’s congressional delegation also offered their sympathies on social media on the pope’s passing.

“Amy Kate and I are praying for all who mourn the passing of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace.” — US Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC.

“Pope Francis dedicated his life to faith, compassion, and service to God. His passing is a loss felt around the world. Susan and I join Catholics and non-Catholics across North Carolina in honoring his legacy of service.” — US Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC.

“Prayers for the Catholic Church and the See of Believers. Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.” — Rep. Greg Murphy, R, NC-03.

“I join the millions around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis was a moral and visionary leader who challenged us to always treat others with compassion and care. May he rest in eternal peace.” — Rep. Valerie Foushee, D, NC-04.

“Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing.” — Rep. Pat Harrigan, R, NC-10.

“Pope Francis led with humility, conviction, and compassion. He reminded the world of the power of mercy and the call to serve the least among us. God rest his soul.” — Rep. Don Davis, D, NC-01.

“With the passing of Pope Francis, the world has lost a faithful leader whose message of compassion, peace, and understanding impacted countless lives. May he rest in peace,” — Rep. Chuck Edwards, R, NC-11.

“Pope Francis reminded us that we all have the duty to do good. His passing is a profound loss, not just for the Catholic Church but for humanity and decency everywhere. May we all strive to lead with the grace he lived by.” — Rep. Deborah Ross, D, NC-02.

Others also spoke of Pope Francis being humble and relatable to others.

“Even in the move to Rome, Pope Francis remained a Latin American priest of great humility and simplicity, said Peter Casarella, a professor of theology at Duke Divinity School, in a press release. “He chose not to live in the papal apartments but instead to reside in the Vatican guesthouse. He has been noted for his personal connections with people, his willingness to listen, and his down-to-earth nature.”

Bishops in the Dioceses of Raleigh and Charlotte also remarked on the life of the late pope.

“I was blessed to have opportunities to meet with Pope Francis many times and was amazed by his warmth, and compassion, and sense of humor,” Diocese of Raleigh Bishop Luis Zarama said in a statement. “I will always be amazed when I recall how he demonstrated that same humility and humanity in every interaction with every person he met.”

“I am deeply saddened by the death of Pope Francis and join with Catholics of the Diocese of Charlotte and around the world in mourning the loss of our shepherd,” said Diocese of Charlotte Bishop Michael Martin in a statement. “I am certain that all people of good will rejoice with us that this man of faith has ‘finished the race’ (2 Tim 4:7), and we pray that he will receive the reward which we have all been promised by our merciful God who has saved us from the finality of death. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him!”

Bishop Michael Martin of the Diocese of Charlotte speaking on meeting with the late Pope Francis. Used with permission by the Diocese of Charlotte.

Bishop Martin said in a press conference Monday that he thinks Pope Francis’ greatest gift to the church was synodality, a process of calling the Catholic Church to be a more listening church in a time and in a world where listening is hard to find.

“Everyone wants to be heard, not too many people want to hear, want to actually listen, and so he called the church to be in a perpetual posture of listening through synodality,” he said.

The diocese will hold a special Mass to honor and remember Pope Francis on Wednesday at 7 pm at St. Mark Catholic Church in Huntersville.

What’s next?

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Vatican camerlengo, has assumed administrative authority over the Holy See until a new pope is chosen.

The College of Cardinals will be preparing the funeral arrangements, and its dean, 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, will preside over the pope’s funeral Mass.

According to the Catholic News Service, the funeral Mass is the first of nine formal Masses — called the “novendiali” for “nine days” — that are celebrated for a deceased pontiff. While the Masses are open to the public, their celebration is entrusted in rotation to specific groups, including employees and residents of Vatican City State, the Diocese of Rome, the chapters of the major basilicas of Rome, the Roman Curia, the Eastern churches, and members of religious orders.

When the nine days have ended, the church begins following another set of rites and liturgies contained in the “Ordo Rituum Conclavis” (“Rites of the Conclave”), which has also been prepared by the College of Cardinals.

Only cardinals under the age of 80 can vote in the conclave, and there is a limit of 120. It’s estimated that there are between 130 and 145 who are eligible.

There is no set number of days to vote. It all depends on how long it takes for a particular candidate to achieve the requisite number of votes within the College of Cardinals. If a vote is not conclusive during a particular session, black smoke is released as a signal to the world. If white smoke is seen, a new pope has been chosen.

The late pope’s body will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica from Wednesday morning until the funeral on Saturday morning. A procession will pass through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs before entering the basilica through the central door.

According to his wishes, Pope Francis will not be buried in the Vatican grottoes but instead at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a church he visited more than 100 times during his papacy, before and after international trips, in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The post Tributes across US, NC to late Pope Francis, as Vatican begins steps for next pope first appeared on Carolina Journal.

 

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