St Louis Mourns the Passing of Pope Francis

 

Easter Sunday (4/20/25) is a mostly rainy day with grey skies in Saint Louis. The television broadcasts from the Vatican show Pope Francis showing up among the flock. He looks to be recovering from pneumonia but he looks weak as he gestures to the crowd. Overnight the world changed. 

Monday morning news announces that the Pope died. Amid the highlights of the story, the local broadcasts advises that there will be a Mass at 12:00 noon at the Saint Louis Cathedral Basilica in his honor. I feel compelled to be among the faithful. I arrived early enough to secure a parting space in the lot on the block on Lindell. Approaching the steps I notice a camera crew and a reporter from channel 4. (Alexis Zotos introduces herself and asks if I would mind talking.) I agreed and this is what channel 4 captured from my remarks at 6:00 p.m.,"It's a critical time for the world. It's a very sad thing seeing the pope passing away. It's gonna be a turning point for the Catholic Church and, you know, religious people everywhere."

The pews were almost at capacity as Archbishop Mitchel Roznaski and an entourage that included priests and seminarians filed toward the alter. 

 

 

So the world mourns the pope's passing on Monday April 21, 2025. The Catholic Church prepares for the Conclave that will facilitate the selection of his successor.  

I saw the movie Conclave in 2024. It gave me a perspective on the process of selection of a new pope. The real life Conclave met and a decision was made relatively quickly as Pope Leo IVX take on the role. (American ties: Novice in St. Louis, Villanova University in Philly and time in Chicago. Spanish speaker with time spent in Peru)