With Pope Francis passing at the age of 88, it is a time to reflect and to see where the Catholic Church might go in the future.
Francis was a man known for his humility, simple lifestyle, and progressive stance on social issues.
He was a Vatican leader who was equally at home with the powerful and the poor. But the Pontiff was not always so popular inside the Vatican and faced backlash from conservatives.
Father Tom Willis from St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church joined News4JAX anchor Bruce Hamilton on The Morning Show to discuss his papacy, possible successors, and where the church may go politically in the future. (Press play below to watch the full interview)
In St. Augustine, News4JAX anchor Melanie Lawson visited the Cathedral Basilica to speak with local Catholics about the Pope’s passing.
Many who worship regularly at the morning Mass said they watched the Pope speak on Easter Sunday, shortly before his death.
They said he looked well, and even though he had been battling health issues, they were surprised to hear the news of his passing.
“Sadness, but I’m happy for him, because I know where he’s going,” one parishioner said. “He’s going to Jesus. I think he was a good holy man. I think he loved the Lord. I think he loved people. I think his concern, especially for the poor of the world, was sincere and true.”
“He was a very different pope than what we’ve had in the past, so looking back and seeing what his message was and how the church might continue that with the next pope,” said Ryan Saxon.
The official cause of death for Pope Francis was released Monday afternoon. The Vatican said Pope Francis died of a cerebral stroke that put him into a coma and led to irreversible heart failure. The full causes of death were listed as cerebral stroke, coma and “irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.”
The Archdiocese of St. Augustine said they will be holding a mass for the Pope on Thursday at 6 p.m.
