Philly mourns Pope Francis’ death, celebrates his legacy, at noon mass

The passing of Pope Francis was marked in Philadelphia by around people who joined a noon mass on Easter Monday at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Center City Pope Francis who was died early Monday due to a stroke and heart failure at his Vatican residence Catholic cardinals will now gather to plan a funeral and to select the next pope Until then Francis No Cardinal Kevin Farrell who was born in Ireland but is a naturalized U S citizen will preside Here in Philly attendees were grieving Francis death and remembering his impact on the city the world and themselves Plenty of had vivid memories of his historic visit to the city nearly a decade ago He will invariably be known to us Philadelphians as a pilgrim to Philadelphia during the World Meeting of Families in Archbishop of Philadelphia Nelson J P rez revealed during the function He celebrated mass at that altar in this beautiful cathedral He celebrated mass at the foot of the Art Museum on the initiatives of Rocky Helen Pron from Media Pa explained it was very central for her to trip into Philadelphia for the mass I was here when he was in Philadelphia and I also went to Rome and I saw him at the canonization of Pope John Paul II she explained A decade ago Pron came to the Parkway with her granddaughter to see Francis procession She took a photo of him going by but lost it when she updated to a new phone She brought another keepsake from to Monday s organization wearing a shirt she bought then that commemorated the pope s visit It was the first time she had worn it since Francis visit she reported Helen Pron wore her Pope Francis shirt to noon mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia on the day of his passing at on April Kimberly Paynter WHYY Majority of admirable people in my lifetime Brian DiStefano from Center City was also on the Ben Franklin Parkway when Francis paraded by He had another chance to see him in Rome while visiting his daughter Shannon who was studying there What I really remember we had two little baby twins in front of us He made a beeline for the babies as he walked down the aisle DiStefano recalled He loved the children and fortunate them Brian DiStefano and his daughter Shannon attended noon mass in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on April Kimberly Paynter WHYY I was raised Catholic a bit lapsed but just from a humanitarian perspective and his strength what he has shown to me he s supposedly one of the most of admirable people in my lifetime just what he s been able to accomplish for everybody he commented of Francis Archbishop P rez had met with Pope Francis several times Summing up the meetings he remembered Francis unbelievable simplicity of life and ability to put people at ease in his presence In his homily P rez revealed that Francis will dependably be remembered as the Pope of the people who unfailingly encouraged his bishops to have the scent of the sheep to be around the people Catholics waited to speak to Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez outside the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on April Kimberly Paynter WHYY Francis progressive views on the LGBTQ locality state change and capitalism which alienated chosen in the church were also highlighted and praised by those who attended the Easter Monday afternoon mass He challenged the world on how we treat the poor the marginalized and the immigrant P rez mentioned He knew that they held a special place in the heart of Christ and that he as a shepherd had to have a special place in his heart A source of spiritual refuge Although it was Sharon Tyson s first time in the basilica she felt a connection to the Pope since she moved to Center City A victim of domestic violence Tyson discovered refuge at Francis House of Peace an affordable housing apartment building near Old City named in honor of Pope Francis She credited Project Home God and Pope Francis for providing her a path to safety Sharon Tyson disclosed she was so sad to hear of Pope Francis passing but after attending noon mass in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul she felt joyful Kimberly Paynter WHYY He s not perfect he s a man but his goodness is overwhelming she explained So as I walk back to my building which is his namesake Francis House of Peace I m just overwhelmed DiStefano hoped that Francis legacy would remain even after a new Pope is chosen I think we re very fortunate to have had him and hopefully he s put in place a legacy that the Catholic Church continues DiStefano noted Who knows where it s going to go but we ve been very fortunate to have him Maureen Fratantoni from South Philly who participated in visits with both Francis and John Paul noted that she craved to see the church move in a direction of love God is love So love is the key To love everyone she disclosed South Philadelphians Maureen Fratantoni and Mark Mullica attended noon mass in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on April Kimberly Paynter WHYY Ricky Rivera brought the venture from the Francis Festival to noon mass in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on April Kimberly Paynter WHYY Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez eulogized Pope Francis in his homily during noon mass in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on April Kimberly Paynter WHYY Philadelphia Catholics honored Pope Francis at noon mass in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on April Kimberly Paynter WHYY About Catholics attended noon mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia on the day of Pope Francis passing at on April Kimberly Paynter WHYY Philadelphia Catholics honored Pope Francis at noon mass in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on April Kimberly Paynter WHYY About Catholics attended noon mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia on the day of Pope Francis passing at on April Kimberly Paynter WHYY A memorial to Pope Francis at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia on the day of his passing at on April Kimberly Paynter WHYY Philadelphia Catholics honored Pope Francis at noon mass in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on April Kimberly Paynter WHYY The post Philly mourns Pope Francis death celebrates his legacy at noon mass appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY