Today is a sad day. The Pope has died.

Today, Monday, April 21, 2025, at 1:35 a.m. Eastern Time (7:35 a.m. Italian Time), Pope Francis died in Vatican City. He departed this earthly life and “returned to the home of the Father,” said Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, Vatican camerlengo, according to the Associated Press, The New York Times, and other major news outlets. Ferrell will manage operations of the Holy See until a successor is named. Pope Francis was 88.

That’s the news, the official story and specifics as we know them on this Easter Monday morning.

This hardly significant theologian and professor can scarcely add any new commentary to the discourse filled with thoughtful words from bishops, world leaders, and journalists. I can only offer a personal connection, echo the world’s thoughts, and make a small, but genuine call for prayer.

A regular human man, the Pope was as fallible and imperfect as anyone. Yet he was called by the Holy Spirit and elected by the College of Cardinals to lead the global Catholic Church for 12 years. When he was named Pontiff in 2013, I was in formation, discerning a permanent profession to the Secular Franciscan Order. This third order of Franciscans was founded in the early 13^th century by St. Francis of Assisi.

When Jorge Maro Bergoglio emerged on the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square, he was introduced as Francis. The first pope to take the name of St. Franics, the new pontiff helped affirm my vocation to an order focused on the poor and marginalized while engaging in interfaith efforts. My friend Annie called from Wilkes-Barre as I was watching the event unfold on a live stream. I was in Syracuse. “Francis!” she exclaimed. “Franics! It’s a sigh! You’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing!”

I would come to admire and love this man I would never meet in the years that followed.

“The pope cared about the plight of migrants, the displaced victims of war no matter their religion, and the most forgotten and marginalized among us. For him it was real,” remembered Jason Horowitz who covered the Francis pontificate for The New York Times.

“He was a Pope for everyone,” reflected Joseph Biden, former president of the United States. “He was the People’s Pope — a light of faith, hope, and love.” Biden was the second Catholic U.S. President.

“Opposition opens up paths,” Francis once said. “I love opposition.”

Francis was not only held in high regard by the Catholic faithful, though. He was a champion of interfaith relations and dialog. “I remember the numerous occasions in which I met him, always marked by sympathy, attention and trust,” recalled Riccardo di Sengi, chief Rabbi of Rome. “With my community I express my condolences for his passing and heartfelt condolences to the Catholic world.

“Pope Francis was a humanitarian icon of the highest caliber, sparing no effort in serving the message of humanity,” said Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb. The Muslim leader referred to the pope as his “brother.”

This morning, I exchanged brief communication with Msgr. Christopher Washington, a priest of the Diocese of Scranton, who was personal aid and translator to Pope Francis until the Pontiff’s death in today’s early hours. “Thank you for such a beautiful message!” he responded to my short offering of prayer and condolence. “I very much appreciate it.” Indeed, this pope’s passing has global effects that reach our local community.

As the world mourns the passing of one of the most noteworthy leaders of the Catholic Church in modern history, let us consider praying for three intentions today and in the days to come. For the repose of Pope Francis’ soul, that he may know the eternal presence of God in the Heavenly Kingdom; for those who grieve the loss of the pope, that they may know comfort; and for the future of the Catholic Church as its care is passed from Francis.

Soon we will pray for the conclave and the man who will succeed Francis and take on the leadership and pastoral care of the Church.

Lord, hear our prayers.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. May perpetual light shine upon him.