Local Catholic Leaders Reflect on Passing of Pope Francis

Catholics around the world have been mourning the loss of Pope Francis over the past week, with more than 250,000 in attendance at his funeral service at the Vatican on Saturday. One local Catholic leader says while every recent pope has been a unique person, he believes Pope Francis seemed to have a real value of the contribution of each person to the life of the Catholic Church. Father Joe Walter of St. Anthony's Parish in Fredonia spoke with WDOE News about that aspect of Pope Francis...

Joe Walter: everyone had a role to play

Father Walter says another memory of Pope Francis he always takes with him is a gospel reflection he delivered during the COVID pandemic regarding an instance where Jesus was asleep in a boat amid troubled waters...

Joe Walter: caring about others

Father Paul Cygan of Holy Apostles Parish in Jamestown says the passing of Pope Francis feels like the death of a grandfather...

Paul Cygan: like the death of a grandfather

Walter and Cygan say their respective parishes plan to hold masses in Francis' honor. Cygan says he may consider having his church's doors open for personal prayer. Pope Francis passed away on Monday at the age of 88.