On Monday, April 21st, news of Pope Francis’ death took over the world. He assumed the role in 2013 and immediately set himself apart from his predecessors as the first pope not to hail from Europe in over 1,200 years.
Known for his inclusivity and boundary-breaking approach, the Pope’s legacy is one that is being praised, particularly in New York. In addition to a touching post, New York City Mayor Eric Adams ordered all of flags on city buildings to be flown at half mast.
“It is with great sadness that I mourn with billions around the world after learning of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis,” Mayor Adams wrote on X, previously known as Twitter. “As someone deeply connected to my faith and who represents a city of millions of Catholics, my visit to the Vatican to meet with and hear directly from Pope Francis last year was one of the most sacred and special moments of my life.”
He added that the pontiff led with “kindness, grace, and faith as he helped build a better world and unite all people.”
Likewise, New York Governor Kathy Hochul paid tribute to the pope via social channels.
“I join Catholics around the world in mourning the loss of Pope Francis,” she wrote on X. “He embodied the values Christ taught us every day: Helping the less fortunate, calling for peace, and ensuring every person is treated as a child of God. We should all strive to carry on his legacy.”
Although specific memorials have yet to be revealed, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown honored the Pope’s legacy during an early-morning mass with Cardinal Dolan on Monday. Additionally, the NYPD hung funeral ribbons on the church in the pope’s honor.
“We’re convinced that even though Pope Francis has passed over, passed over from this life to the next, he still lives, he still lives,” Dolan said. “Even though we have rock solid confidence in the mercy of Jesus, we never take it for granted. So we ask mercy upon his noble eternal soul. You bet we do, he’d want us to. He was such an eloquent preacher in divine mercy.”
Those who visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Facebook are able to view the livestream of the day’s masses. Additionally, the Cathedral posted an image of an empty seat and a chalice that the pope gifted New Yorkers when he visited in 2015. Ten years ago, he made a six-day visit to the U.S., including NYC, and visited Our Lady Queen of Angels in Harlem.
As more tributes take place throughout the coming days, we’ll keep you posted.