San Diego-Area Catholics Mourn Death of Pope Francis at Age 88

SAN DIEGO, CA — Catholics around the San Diego area joined faithful around the world and international leaders Monday to mourn the death of Pope Francis.

The pontiff died at 7:35 a.m. Rome time Monday at the Vatican -- one day after Easter -- and "returned to the home of the Father," Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a Vatican spokesman, announced. Francis was 88.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, substitute chief of staff and Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of liturgical ceremonies, joined Farrell when he made the announcement at the Vatican.

"Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," the announcement said. "At 7:35 this morning, The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father's house. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church.

"He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of God, One and Triune."

The administrator of the Diocese of San Diego, Auxiliary Bishop Michael Pham, released a statement Monday saying, "The Holy Father cared deeply for all of us, but especially for people living at the margins of our society.

"He was never afraid to speak out and remind us that we all share the gifts of God's love and mercy, to show his determination that we care for one another, that we put our faith in action, that we show respect in how we treat our fellow women and men, and how we treat the environment around us," Pham said.

"The Pope had a special affection for our border community, and always expressed concern for the immigrants who journeyed through it."

Deacon Jim Vargas, president and CEO at Catholic nonprofit Father Joe's Villages, said Francis "will forever be remembered for his humility and for his deep compassion, especially for our most vulnerable neighbors across the world."

"We celebrate his lifetime of service to the Lord and to all of humanity," Vargas said. "Let us all live by his example in serving our neighbors without judgment and always with the deepest love. May Pope Francis bask in the loving embrace of our Lord."

Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement that Francis "led with his love of peace and creation and sought to protect and lift up the vulnerable."

"He championed human dignity, especially that of the poor, called the world to urgent climate action, condemned the death penalty, and confronted painful truths -- including the Church's role in the genocide of Indigenous peoples," Newsom said. "His papacy was characterized by moral courage, a profound respect for all creation, and a deep conviction in the transformative power of love to heal and unite."

Francis was diagnosed with chronic lung disease and had part of a lung removed when he was younger. He was admitted to a hospital on Feb. 14 for a respiratory episode that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days in the hospital and made his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, blessing the faithful in St. Peter's Square while sitting in a wheelchair.

He served as pope for 12 years and set a different tone for the papacy, focusing on humility for a Catholic Church facing scandals and accusations of indifference.

The Argentine-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio became pope on March 13, 2013, and succeeded Pope Benedict XVI, whose surprise resignation led to Francis' election.

Francis reached out to the LGBTQ+ community and cracked down on traditionalists, which created tension with conservatives in the Catholic Church.

He was pope during the coronavirus pandemic and asked his followers to use it as an opportunity to review the economic and political framework that he said was turning the wealthy against the impoverished.

"We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented," Francis told an empty St. Peter's Square in March 2020.

Part of his message included stressing the need for "all of us to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other."

City News Service