Some New Yorkers who mourned Pope Francis’ death on Easter Monday converged upon St. Patrick’s Cathedral to pray for the late pontiff and the future of the Catholic Church.
The expansive hallowed halls of the over century-old cathedral, the most famous Catholic church in America, teemed with sorrowful Catholics on April 21 as the world mourned Francis a day after celebrating the feast commemorating Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
On the altar of St. Patrick’s Cathedral Monday, where the Holy Father had led a prayer service during his September 2015 visit to New York, a framed photograph of Francis sat between flickering candles. The golden chair upon which he once sat was draped with two stoles, one purple and one white, and bearing golden crosses.
The Vatican announced his death that morning, sending New Yorkers and tourists of faith flocking to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral to pay homage to a holy man they say stirred a change in religion.
Many New Yorkers grieving the loss stopped at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and approached the altar, bowing their heads in reverence. A number of mourners cried and clasped their hands together in prayer as they remembered Pope Francis’ impact on not just the Catholic Church but the world as a whole.
Susan Craig said that she came to pray for both the Pope and whoever is to succeed him.
“I came to pray for the Pope and to pray for the church that we elect a Pope who will continue his work and bring the church forward,” Craig said. “He reached out to all those people who are persecuted — migrants and LGBTQ+ people. He reached out to women, and he gave women more leadership roles. That was very important.”
Craig also told amNewYork that she found it comforting to be inside the house of worship with fellow mourners in the hours following his death.
“It’s beautiful at the moment, there’s a lot of people in there praying,” Craig said.
Elizabeth Johnson was also among those who looked to pay her respects. She said she was walking Uptown when she heard the news and wanted to reflect on the Pope’s life and legacy.
“It was not unexpected, but it was a surprise,” Johnson said. “I thought: I wonder if they’re going to hold any special services. Let me just pop in.”
During her time in the cathedral, she shared that she thought about the finality of death.
“I admired his humanity and his humility,” Johnson said. “It’s always sad when someone of that stature passes away, but I’m old enough. I know death is a part of life. And you have to believe in his position, he was ready.”
Audeen Brooks and John Brooks were on vacation in New York City from Ireland, and the couple told amNewYork that Pope Francis stood out as someone who had empathy for all.
“We were very sad; he was a good man. It was a loss,” Audeen Brooks said. “[I liked] his empathy for the poor, and he was so non-judgmental of all denominations.”
“It’s a loss of a world leader,” she added.
“[He was] very calm and earnest. He was spiritually very nice,” John Brooks said.
During a noon Mass, Father Donald Haggerty referred to Pope Francis as a father figure to the observer of the religion.
“A father in our family, I lost my father many years ago. I think a number of you are here today because you had love for Pope Francis,” Haggerty told parishioners. “He was humble about his humanity.”
Haggerty spoke of the outpouring of emotion and profound impact of the loss, pointing out that many have crossed the threshold of the church in tears. He even shared that he was stopped in the streets by strangers who gave condolences regarding the passing.
