Easter Monday
April 21, 2025

Dear Friends,
 
With all of you, I was deeply saddened to learn this morning of the death of Pope Francis.
 
From the first moment when he came out on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on March 13, 2013, dressed simply in a white cassock, and bowed down, asking the people to bless him, we knew this was a different kind of Pope. For me, you could say it was love at first sight. What a breath of fresh air he has been in our Church, coming at a moment when we needed him so badly.
 
Again and again, he broke with tradition, always in order to remind us of Christ’s own joy, simplicity, compassion, and far-reaching embrace. A few moments that come to mind: washing the feet of migrants and prisoners on Holy Thursday; celebrating his birthday with the homeless of Rome at the Vatican; visiting the Central African Republic and praying with migrants in Lampedusa. He witnessed to the mercy of God and even called an extraordinary Jubilee Year to reawaken us to the fact that God is Mercy.
 
Perhaps the crown of his pontificate came towards his last years and the Synod on Synodality: challenging us to new forms of governance and to open ourselves to listen one another in a genuine and deep way—a vision of a Church where every voice matters and every voice can be heard.
 
I can’t help but think back to the fall of 2016, when I had the exceptional privilege of meeting Pope Francis. I am grateful that I had the opportunity then to embrace this holy man of God and thank him for the gift he has been to the Church.
 
On the eve of Pope Francis' funeral at the Vatican, we will keep vigil at the Cathedral. Please join us for a special candlelight vigil on Friday, April 25 at 6:30pm, with words of Pope Francis and music from the ecumenical community of Taizé, France. In addition, we will pray in a special way for Pope Francis at all Masses this weekend. Archbishop Etienne will offer a special Requiem Mass on Monday, April 28 at 12:10pm.
 
Let us give thanks for the witness of this warm, approachable, and visionary pastor. May he now experience the vision of the God who is mercy, and may the joy of the Gospel be his for eternity. Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter now your Master’s joy!

Father Michael G. Ryan