Local Catholics respond to news of Pope Francis’ death; memorial Masses scheduled
Father John Robert Skeldon, rector of St. Patrick Cathedral, touches a shrouded portrait of Pope Francis during Mass on April 21, 2025. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
FORT WORTH — Although he had recently been hospitalized for 38 days with double pneumonia, Pope Francis’ death on April 21 surprised Catholic faithful, especially in light of the pontiff’s outdoor appearance the previous day, Easter Sunday.
Bishop Michael Olson issued a statement on the Holy Father’s passing, imploring the faithful: “Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis as we mourn his passing at the start of the Easter season. We mourn his passing with gratitude for his service to the Church and with hope in Christ's mercy.”
In the full statement posted on the diocesan website, he wrote, “Pope Francis’ last public words were ‘Happy Easter.’ He spoke them with effort and amidst suffering surrounded by the faithful in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. He died as he lived and ministered, a simple man of faith in the Resurrection and in Christ’s mercy for each of us."
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Olson to serve the Diocese of Fort Worth in November 2013.
Bishop Olson is scheduled to preside over two special Masses for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. On Wednesday, April 23, Bishop Olson will celebrate Mass in English at 6 p.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral (1206 Throckmorton Street in downtown Fort Worth).
On Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m., Bishop Olson will celebrate Mass in Spanish at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, which is located at 2635 Burchill Road in Fort Worth.
Almost 200 people attended the noon daily Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral on April 21. Just hours after Pope Francis’ death, a large portrait of the late pontiff draped in black cloth stood in front of the ambo, with flowers and a candle nearby.
Father John Robert Skeldon, rector of the cathedral, referenced Pope Francis throughout his homily. He said, “On this Monday of the Octave of Easter, we as a Church — Catholic and universal — encounter, confront the death of our beloved Pope like the women at the empty tomb of Jesus.
“Pope Francis, as the successor to the Apostle Peter, summoned the Church, summoned all of us, to let go of our fears and defensive postures and announce, simply announce, the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ to all the margins and peripheries of the world, places where human beings often cower in fear and seemingly never know mercy,” Fr. Skeldon continued.
The rector said Pope Francis often referred to the Apostles, “the scared little band of believers,” proclaiming the Good News with boldness after the “transforming power of the Resurrection and the strength of the Holy Spirit.”
The mission remains
“We’re not guardians in some museum,” Fr. Skeldon remembered the Pope saying, “We have to be facilitators and conveyors of the love of God.”
Pope Francis was known for colorful expressions, including calling for “a revolution of tenderness.” Fr. Skeldon prayed that we may all be foot soldiers in that revolution.
Deborah Simmons, a St. Patrick parishioner, noted that many people were moved to attend daily Mass by the news of Pope Francis’ death.
Her initial response to hearing of the Pope’s demise was emptiness, a feeling of being orphaned.
But then she remembered St. Peter’s excitement and joy to share the Word; she saw the same excitement and joy in Pope Francis; and she prays that the new pope will also have the excitement and joy of the Gospel.
“The succession of Peter, the Magisterium, the hierarchy — you don’t feel like an orphan when you think of that,” she said.
She and her husband prayed “for God to open the gates of heaven for Pope Francis and welcome him in.”
Pope Francis’ example of reaching out to people at the margins of society inspired Simmons to participate in outreach to people experiencing homelessness. “[Pope Francis] went to the poor, and that's what Christ wants us to do,” she recalled.