Death Of Pope Francis Draws Reaction From NoVA, DC Leaders

VIRGINIA — Tributes to Pope Francis, who died Monday at age 88, poured in across Northern Virginia from church and government leaders who offered prayers after the pontiff's death was announced.

"Suzanne and I join Roman Catholics across Virginia and around the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis," Gov. Glenn Youngin said. "As a servant of God, Pope Francis inspired so many with his message of compassion, concern for the poor, and invitation to seek Christ’s mercy. May God rest his soul."

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington, which covers 21 counties in Northern Virginia, including Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, joined the nation and the world in prayer in mourning the death of Pope Francis.

“The Holy Father’s pontificate was marked by his desire that all may draw nearer to the heart of Jesus and bear witness to his unconditional love,” Burbidge said. “Pope Francis called us to live the joy of the Gospel and be a Church of missionary disciples who go out and accompany those on the peripheries of society. The Holy Father urged everyone to work together in a spirit of fraternal solidarity and dialogue to overcome conflicts and injustices, to care for our common home, and to build bridges of peace and reconciliation.”

Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital this February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.

The pope emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile romp through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause as he continued his recovery from a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia.

“Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!” Francis said, his voice sounding stronger than it has since he was released from the hospital on March 23.

"I am so saddened by the death of Pope Francis, who modeled humility and compassion as he led the Catholic Church," said Sen. Tim Kaine. I met him once in Rome and we talked in Spanish about the need for all to provide hospitality to refugees. At the end of our conversation, he switched into English and said “Pray for me.” Thank God for his life and service."

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C., praised the late pontiff for reaching out to those on the margins of the Church and of society.

"Pope Francis gave us this Jubilee Year of Hope," he said. "Pope Francis recently observed that we are all pilgrims of hope, journeying together towards 'the grandeur of the heavenly goal to which we have been called.'"

Amid the priest sex abuse scandal, a crisis erupted over ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the retired archbishop of Washington and a counselor to three popes, according to the Associated Press.

Francis had actually moved swiftly to sideline McCarrick amid an accusation he had molested a teenage altar boy in the 1970s, AP reports. But Francis nevertheless was accused by the Vatican’s one-time U.S. ambassador of having rehabilitated McCarrick early in his papacy.

Francis eventually defrocked McCarrick after a Vatican investigation determined he sexually abused adults as well as minors, according to AP’s reporting. He changed church law to remove the pontifical secret surrounding abuse cases and enacted procedures to investigate bishops who abused or covered for their pedophile priests, seeking to end impunity for the hierarchy

History’s first Latin American pontiff and also the first Jesuit elected to head the Roman Catholic Church, Francis charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor, the marginalized and migrants but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change.

The Holy Father named himself after St. Francis of Assisi in deference to the saint’s humility and commitment to the poor and his message of peace. He lived in a simple two-room suite at the Vatican guesthouse rather than the more luxurious Apostolic Palace.

”President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!”

The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has offered prayers and condolences for Francis to his spiritual brothers, sisters and followers around the world.

He said in a letter that Francis had dedicated himself to the service of others, “consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life. The best tribute we can pay to him is to be a warm-hearted person, serving others wherever and in whatever way we can.”

The first formal liturgical ritual for Francis will occur at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Monday with the confirmation of the pope's death and the placement of the body in the coffin.

The Vatican released the announcement from Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the master of liturgical ceremonies. The presiding prelate is Cardinal Joseph Farrell, the camerlengo who has taken over the administration of the Holy See and will remain in charge until a new pope is elected.

Those invited to attend the ceremony, which will take place in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where Francis lived, are the dean of the College of Cardinals, any relatives of the pope, the director and vice director of the Vatican's health department.

The body rests in the pope's personal chapel for the ritual pronouncement of death, presided over by the camerlengo, the Vatican official who runs the Holy See administration between the death or resignation of one pope and the election of another.

For the public, the cardinal archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, is expected to lead a recitation of the Rosary prayer in St. Peter's Square later Monday.

According to the new rites and rituals Francis approved last year, the body will remain in the chapel for a few days before being brought for public viewing in St. Peter's Basilica. After that there will be the funeral and conclave to elect a new pope.

On Monday morning, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington, which covers 21 counties in Northern Virginia, including Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, issued the following statement:

“I join with Catholics and all people of goodwill across the Diocese of Arlington, the nation and the world in prayer as we mourn the death of Pope Francis. Over the course of his long life, the Holy Father served as a witness to the risen Christ, our source of hope for eternal happiness.

“The Holy Father’s pontificate was marked by his desire that all may draw nearer to the heart of Jesus and bear witness to his unconditional love. Pope Francis called us to live the joy of the Gospel and be a Church of missionary disciples who go out and accompany those on the peripheries of society. The Holy Father urged everyone to work together in a spirit of fraternal solidarity and dialogue to overcome conflicts and injustices, to care for our common home, and to build bridges of peace and reconciliation. In what has already become an enduring image of his pontificate, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis emerged alone on the steps of Saint Peter’s Basilica to direct the gaze of the world to our Eucharistic Lord for an extraordinary moment of global Adoration and blessing. The Holy Father reminded us: 'God turns everything to our good.'

“In the course of his Apostolic Journeys and in meetings with political and religious leaders, as well as people from all walks of life, Pope Francis constantly drew attention to the infinite dignity of every human person, especially the unborn, the poor, the migrant, the innocent, and those most vulnerable, observing that they can easily be cast aside by a “throwaway culture.” In that light, the Holy Father spoke often of the parable of the Good Samaritan, reminding us that we are all brothers and sisters to one another and that our words and actions should reflect the Lord’s closeness, compassion, and protection.

“Providentially, Pope Francis gave us this Jubilee Year of Hope. Pope Francis recently observed that we are all pilgrims of hope, journeying together towards “the grandeur of the heavenly goal to which we have been called.” It is this very Christian hope that makes possible our trust in God, our Heavenly Father, as he opens the doors of eternal life to Pope Francis. We unite now in prayer for our departed Holy Father, trusting that our loving God will grant him the reward of his labors and welcome him into the kingdom of heaven. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May our Holy Father Pope Francis rest in peace.”

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C., also released a statement concerning the Pope Francis' death:

“Pope Francis will long be remembered for his outreach to those on the margins of the Church and of society. He renewed for us the mission to bring the Gospel out to the ends of the earth and offer divine mercy to all. He has also taken advantage of the present Jubilee to call us to a profound hope: one that is not an empty or naïve hope, but one grounded in the promise of Almighty God to be with us always.

“Even with his roots in the Piedmont region of Italy, the first Pope from our American Continent was marked by his experience as a Jesuit and a shepherd in Buenos Aires. He brought that experience and vision with him to his ministry for the universal Church.

“Recently, he expressed a new prayerful hope in his letter of support to the Bishops of this country in our attempts to respond to the face of Christ in the migrant, poor, and unborn. In fact, he has always used the strongest and clearest expressions in the defense of the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death.

“I last saw him at the Jubilee Mass for the Armed Forces, Police, and Security Personnel. Despite the challenges of his health, he was with us and even used a slight gesture to salute the group of bishops who concelebrated the Mass before he boarded the vehicle to return to Santa Marta.

“The passage from this life of the Bishop of Rome calls us to pray for his eternal rest and to continue on our path to a deeper union with the Lord Jesus. We remember his leadership in inspiring nations,
organizations, and individuals to a renewed commitment to care for each other and our common home.

“The Bishops of the United States unite in prayer with Catholics here and around the world and all people of good will in gratitude for the life of our revered shepherd. We mourn the passing of our Holy Father and beg Saint Joseph to accompany him. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting.