As Catholic congregations across the world mourn the passing of Pope Francis, a mass at The Cathedral of Saint Paul honors his life and accomplishments.
Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Bernard Hebda, says Pope Francis paved the way for inclusion in the church that he hopes to see a new pope with similar values.
"He's been a great defender of human life, just the way in which he's been an apostle for peace," says Hebda. "Always calling for peace and just the way in which he really has been leading us to treat one another with great love. Knowing God's mercy, we're then called to share that mercy with others."
The mass Monday is just the first of nine traditional masses that will honor the Pope in the coming days.
Hebda also recalled the Pope's message directed at the Twin Cities.
"You might remember brothers and sisters, that when our beloved Twin Cities were facing all of the difficulties after the death of George Floyd, that Pope Francis mentioned that he was united with us in prayer," Hebda recalled. "In particular, he mentioned the the church of St. Paul and Minneapolis to all of the world saying he was united with us in prayer."
During the mass Monday, Hebda says Pope Francis prayed for peace and was concerned for those who were suffering.
"Certainly those who have a great love for the poor, for the immigrants, for the imprisoned, for the sick, I think all of them found in Pope Francis an inspiration," says Archbishop Hebda. "We just celebrated here on Saturday. We had 16 baptisms and 16 more confirmations, and many of those people, many of them would be able to tell you that they received great encouragement from the example of Pope Francis."
Hebda also says Pope Francis was ready to receive people from all walks of life.
"We certainly saw that, in the emphasis that he placed on on bringing people to Rome, all kinds of people, not just cardinals and bishops, but lay-faithful from around the world," Hebda explains. "And he listened so attentively to them and made sure that we would try to adopt that in all of our parishes and in all of our dioceses as well."
The latest on the death of Pope Francis
Pope Francis died Monday at age 88. The Vatican said the cause of death was a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure.
History’s first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated many conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change.
Francis recently returned to the Vatican after 38 days in a hospital for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy. He last appeared in public on Sunday with an Easter blessing and popemobile tour through a cheering crowd in St. Peter’s Square. No funeral date has been announced. The next pope is yet to be decided.
“I hope that whoever comes after him can be as competent, as affectionate and as loving,” said Mary Soul, a Christian resident of Aleppo, Syria.
Trump plans to attend the pope’s funeral
“Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!” Trump said on social media.
The pope’s apartment is sealed with a red ribbon and wax
Closing up the pope’s formal apartment at the Apostolic Palace is a key part of Catholic tradition declaring a “sede vacante” or vacant see — the period between the death of one pope and the election of another.
Officials draped a red ribbon through the door handles on Monday afternoon, then poured liquid wax on the bow and impressed Francis’ papal seal on the wax to hold the knot.
As Catholic leaders sealed his formal apartment, it wasn’t immediately clear if they also closed off Francis’ other apartment in the Domus Santa Marta.
Following his 2013 election, Francis chose to live there rather than the Apostolic Palace, taking up residence in a two-room suite on the second floor. The hotel is for visiting priests and guests, as well as a residence for some priests who work at the Vatican.