Remembering Pope Francis

With deep sorrow and abiding hope in the Resurrection, the parish community of St. Catharine of Siena mourns the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who faithfully served as the 266th Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was elected to the Chair of St. Peter on March 13, 2013. As the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to hold the office, he brought a spirit of humility, compassion, and pastoral care that resonated across the globe.

Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis championed the dignity of the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten. His call for a “Church that is poor and for the poor,” his emphasis on mercy, and his witness of simplicity inspired countless hearts to return to Christ.

Under his guidance, the Church engaged in renewed conversations about ecology, synodality, and the call to holiness in everyday life. His Apostolic Exhortations, including Evangelii Gaudium, Amoris Laetitia, and Laudato Si’, will remain enduring contributions to the Church’s moral and theological reflection.

At St. Catharine of Siena, we give thanks to God for the gift of Pope Francis’ life and leadership. We join the entire Church in praying for the repose of his soul, confident that he now rests in the loving arms of the Good Shepherd he served so faithfully.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

As we continue in this Novemdiales (the nine days of praying and mourning) and remember Pope Francis, we still have plenty of memorial prayer cards available in the Main Church and Adoration Chapel. (Please limit 2 per person)

Bishop Fernandes urges all the faithful to participate in prayers for the repose of the soul of our deceased Pontiff, including daily Mass, Eucharist Adoration, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary, and the prayers of the Novemdiales Novena, which can be downloaded here.

We also encourage all to screenshot or save the following Novena Prayer for the College of Cardinals to Our Lady of Guadalupe. This is to be prayed daily until a new pope has been elected.

The Conclave is set to begin on Wednesday, May 7th.

For the most accurate and up to date information please follow the Vatican News Service.