Catholics in Parkchester remember Pope Francis
At Saint Helena’s Church in Parkchester, a picture of the pontiff and a candle now sits next to the altar.
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Catholics around the world are mourning the loss of Pope Francis, who died Monday morning. He was 88.
The Vatican announced Francis died of a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure.
Catholics at St. Helena’s Church in Parkchester prayed for the pontiff.
“I was shocked, but I thank God for him,” said Cordelia Akunwafor, of Parkchester.
“[I’m] not 100% shocked because he was sick not too long ago,” said Maria, of Parkchester.
Francis was hospitalized for 38 days earlier this year, following a respiratory issue that developed into double pneumonia.
The Holy Father’s death came one day after he made a surprise appearance during Easter Sunday celebrations in Saint Peter’s Square.
The Bronx church’s pastor, Father Jorge Ramirez, recalled meeting Francis at the Vatican in 2022.
“You could just feel the sense of humanity that he brought out, the humility, the love, the sense of... ‘I’m your pastor. I’m with you. I’m not someone higher than you, I'm at the same level. I want to take care of you,” Ramirez said. “And he asked us to pray for him.”
The faithful said the first Latin American pope is remembered for his kindness and compassion.
“He cared about the poor, the less privileged, everyone who faces a challenge,” Maria said. “I know he cared about the immigrant community a lot.”
Ramirez had a message during this time of grieving.
“Just pray, pray for his soul, pray for the next pope,” the priest said.
Church officials said Francis will be lying in state starting Wednesday, April 23 and the funeral is expected to be either later in the week or next week.
Officials said the first day of that papal conclave, to elect the next pope, begins around May 5.
A look at the pope's 2015 visit to New York City:
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