Cape Codders reflect on Pope Francis legacy. 'Man of the people'
- Cape Cod parishioners and clergy expressed sadness and appreciation for the Pope's emphasis on mercy, inclusivity, and love.
- Pope Francis, the first pope from the Americas, was remembered on Cape Cod for his humility and efforts to reform the Catholic Church.
As news of the death of Pope Francis spread across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River Monday morning, Catholics headed to Mass and reflected on his legacy.
The diocese includes Cape Cod and the Islands and parts of southeastern Massachusetts, with about 274,000 community members.
Bishop of Fall River Edgar M. da Cunha called Pope Francis’ death a big loss for the church and the world. His emphasis on mercy, his calls for welcoming, listening and supporting one another will be his legacy, da Cunha said.
“He has demonstrated care for the outcasts, the poor, those with no voice, those on the periphery of society and he has acknowledged the dignity of every person,” da Cunha said in a telephone call Monday, April 21.
The pope died on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.
A mass for Pope Francis will be held Monday, April 28, at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.
On Cape Cod, many praised Pope Francis
Greg Richardson, a Dennis resident, called Pope Francis a leader who opened the doors of the church to the marginalized. Richardson recalled the Pope’s early beginnings as a football fan, a bouncer, a man who embodied the Jesuit missions of education and social justice.
“He was a man of the people,” Richardson said in an April 21 telephone call. “What I admired most about him was that he walked the walk and talked the talk. He opened doors to people who felt disenfranchised. He spoke up on social issues."
That included welcoming the LGBTQ+ community. A declaration released Dec. 18, 2023, by the Vatican, that Catholic priests could bless same-sex couples was approved by Pope Francis.
Michael Dubour, a member of the parish council and gay men's spirituality group at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Provincetown, praised the Pope for standing up to the bigotry within the Catholic Church.
"It takes a lot of courage, spirit and faith to do that,” he said in an April 21 phone call. “We can only hope we have another individual who comes in who is so full of love, so full of grace and courage, and not just fall back into old conservative views.”
Silence at morning Mass in Centerville
The Rev. Gregory Mathias, pastor at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville, said there was silence in morning Mass.
"It was muted in the sense that it wasn't that surprising because we knew, as everyone knew, he had been sick and very gravely ill," said Mathias at the church Monday. "People are sad, they appreciated him, and probably feel a sense of relief for him, you know, that his faith will be fulfilled through death."
Pope Francis is no longer mentioned as the leader of the church within Mass, although the church will continue to pray for him, said Mathias.
Rev. Christopher Hughes, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Victory Parish, was a senior in high school when Pope Francis was elected.
"His example really was a part of my discernment to the priesthood. You know, watching that whole process as a senior in high school, was really incredible. So it's the end of a chapter. Very sad," said Hughes at the church.
In Harwich at morning Mass
About 50 people arrived at Holy Trinity Church in West Harwich for the 9 a.m. Mass on Monday.
The Rev. George Bellenoit led the Mass and announced that Pope Francis had died. In a brief homily, he recalled Pope Francis’ past as a young person, a factory worker and a Jesuit priest and said that as a pope Francis emphasized “mercy over judgment, comfort over exclusion and hope over fear.”
“That’s what life is all about,” Bellenoit said.
Bellenoit also noted that the last three public officials to see the Pope were the Prime Minister of Italy, the King and Queen of England and the U.S. Vice President and his wife.
Harwich residents Hugh and Lynn Drummond, who attend Mass at Holy Trinity regularly, said Monday they were sad to hear of Francis’ death and Hugh Drummond noted that Francis was the first pope from the Americas.
Mary Burke of South Yarmouth, who was attending the Mass Monday, said afterward of the pope’s death: “I’m crushed. I’m devastated. I think he was a gift to the church, helping others his whole life. He portrayed mercy and love.”
“He brought to the church something we haven’t had in a long time — that we are called to love all God’s creatures and not judge,” Burke said. A former social worker, Burke said she hoped Pope Francis gave a message to Vice President J. D. Vance that the way our country is now “can’t go on like this.”
Hilary Kline, a longtime member of Holy Trinity Church who was married there more than 50 years ago and her children were all baptized there, said Monday she was “stunned” when she woke up and heard that Pope Francis had died.
“I liked that he reached out to prisoners and the homeless. I admired him,” she said.
Other faith leaders: 'Breath of fresh air'
The Rev. Ken Campbell, an Episcopal priest in Orleans and founder of Nauset Interfaith Association, called Pope Francis a bridge among Christians, people of all faith traditions, and all of humanity. For a man called to the highest position of authority in the Catholic church, he was quite extraordinary, Campbell said in a phone call Monday, April 21.
"He was a witness to the universality of faith," Campbell said. "He worked to make faith organizations, and the rest of us, more of who we are called to be in the sense of identifying God’s love with the whole human community. I give thanks to God for his witness as a leader of a church. He was a liberator."
Rabbi David Freelund of the Cape Cod Synagogue in Hyannis applauded many of Francis’ efforts. Not only did Francis modernize the church when it came to sexual abuse scandals, said Freelund, he also welcomed the LGBTQ+ community back into the church.
“He was a breath of fresh air for the church,” said Freelund on April 21. “He kept his word. And he focused the church back on issues of poverty.”
The Rev. Rali Weaver of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth said she’s always admired Francis because of his approach to Christianity. “He came from a place of love. He understood that love and justice could break down barriers and bring us closer together,” said Weaver. “He was less focused on what divides and was more concerned about what connects.”
Weaver said that even in death, Francis was inspirational.
He died at Easter, she said. "Unitarians aren’t necessarily believers in resurrection. But I know he was. And it’s quite a wonderful testament to his faith,” Weaver said.
On Sunday, April 27, at 10 a.m., Weaver will give a sermon about Francis and she will light the church’s chalice in his honor.
“My heart is with all people of the Catholic faith who follow Pope Francis and are grieving this loss,” said Weaver. “We will be hard pressed to replace such an indomitable spirit.”
Announcement of Pope Francis death
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the Pope's death from the Casa Santa Marta with these words, according to Vatican News:
"Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favor of 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 the One and Triune God."
What to know about Pope Francis
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrant parents, Francis rose through the ranks as a Jesuit priest in his home country of Argentina. Elected in March 2013, Francis was the 266th pope, the first pope from the Americas and the first born outside of Europe in over a millennia.
He is remembered as a humble reformer who sought to make the Catholic Church more inclusive. During his papacy, he was praised and criticized for commenting on political issues, from immigration to the LGBTQ community.
Francis was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14 after a case of bronchitis lasted longer than a week. According to updates issued by the Vatican, he had been struggling to speak and even breathe during public appearances. His hospitalization included multiple attacks of “acute respiratory insufficiency.”
The pope was released from the hospital March 23 and had been back to work on a shortened schedule.
With USA Today reports.
This story will be updated.
Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.