As Catholics around the world mourn the death of Pope Francis on Monday, the kind-hearted, compassionate pontiff, who visited NYC in 2015, will always hold a special place in many New Yorkers’ hearts.
Francis, who died at the age of 88 on April 21, a day after Easter Sunday, was known by many Catholics as a progressive pope, even becoming the first pontiff to open an Instagram account.
But he is also remembered for his historic visit to New York City in September 2015, when he received a warm reception from Catholics and many others of all faiths as soon as his plane touched down at JFK Airport in Queens, kicking off his three-day stay in the Big Apple.
During his stay, Francis visited the National September 11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan, where his mere presence offered a sense of comfort, ease, and peace in a place that is often too painful for many New Yorkers to visit. Yet, it reminds all that resilience and love can combat the evil and tragedy that still exists in the world.
According to an Eyewitness News article from 2015, the pope said a prayer and laid a white rose on the slabs engraved with the names of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States. He then met with several relatives of first responders who died in the attack.
“I feel many different emotions standing here at Ground Zero, where thousands of lives were taken in a senseless act of destruction. Here, grief is palpable,” the Holy Father said that day.
Francis also held a prayer service at the world-famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown, an awe-inspiring event not only for Catholics but also for others who were in attendance, including elected officials and special guests of all religious affiliations.
Another highlight of Francis’ trip to New York City was his papal procession through Central Park, where he greeted tens of thousands of people who came out for a rare, likely once-in-a-lifetime look at the pope.
Rounding out his Big Apple visit, Francis presided over Mass at Madison Square Garden in front of an audience of nearly 20,000 people. A venue known for hosting multi-millionaires’ flashy concerts and major-league sports games was turned into a respite of hope with a focus on caring for the less fortunate when the pope was there.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York who participated in the conclave that elected Francis as Pope in 2013, reflected on His Holiness’ visit to NYC.
“I was honored to participate in the conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013, and to have welcomed him here to New York in 2015,” Dolan said in a statement on the Archdiocese of New York website. “He touched us all with his simplicity, with his heart of a humble servant. Trusting in the tender and infinite mercy of Jesus, we pray that he is, even now, enjoying his eternal reward in Heaven.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul, was not in the gubernatorial office at the time of Francis’ NYC visit, but was at the Vatican in 2024 — where she delivered remarks about climate change during a pontifical summit. She shared her thoughts on his death in a statement to the media.
“Pope Francis embodied the values Christ taught us every day: helping the less fortunate, calling for peace, and ensuring every person is treated as a child of God,” she said. “He led with compassion, humility and inclusivity, emphasizing that God does not disown any of his children. He reminded us of our collective responsibility to protect this beautiful planet, our shared home. And he was a man of peace, and a fighter for social and economic justice.”
Francis’ NYC visit was part of a larger tour of the United States that included Philadelphia and Washington, DC.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936, the pope chose Francis as his papal name after St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals. Ordained a Catholic priest in 1969, he became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, the city where he was born, in 1998 before becoming a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul ll.
He became pope in March 2013, after the historic resignation of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.
Francis was known for meeting with people of all religious backgrounds and focused on inclusivity, many times vocalizing that the Catholic Church should be more welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community. While blessings of same-sex marriages are not permitted in the Church, Francis said the individual partners can receive blessings.
New Yorkers around the city reflected on the pope’s death and shared their thoughts with amNewYork.
“The passing of the pope is like losing a piece of my faith,” Jenn Puglia of Staten Island said. “Just as on Good Friday we mourn the death of Jesus, we mourn our leader, the pope. His passing is sad to me. The leader of my church, the maker of peace is gone. It makes me very sad and worrisome for the church.”
Puglia added that she was praying Francis’ successor could “continue peace and strengthen” the Church.
Ange Joy is a New Yorker who was fortunate enough to see Francis in Central Park during the 2015 visit.
“It was so great!” she excitedly said.
Mayor Eric Adams, who visited the pope at the Vatican last year, ordered flags on city buildings to be lowered to half-staff, beginning immediately, in memory of Francis.
