CHARLOTTE — The impact of the life and pontificate of Pope Francis, who died April 21 at the age of 88, had a transformative effect on Catholics around the world and here at home. Pope Francis appointed Bishop Michael Martin in 2024 and has influenced the ministry of many leaders across the Diocese of Charlotte.
Bishop Martin has called for the diocese's 93 churches across the western half of North Carolina to cancel Monday evening's activities and instead open their doors from 7 to 8 p.m. to welcome all people to come and pray for the Holy Father, in communion with the universal Church. More information: "Local prayer services, Mass planned for late pope"
Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv.
I am deeply saddened by the death of Pope Francis and join with Catholics of the Diocese of Charlotte and around the world in mourning the loss of our shepherd. I am certain that all people of good will rejoice with us that this man of faith has “finished the race” (2 Tim 4:7), and we pray that he will receive the reward which we have all been promised by our merciful God who has saved us from the finality of death. There will be time to celebrate the life and legacy of Pope Francis in the days ahead, but for now I invite anyone and everyone to join us in prayer this evening at 7 p.m. in every Roman Catholic church in the Diocese of Charlotte for a time of prayer, reflection, and mourning. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him!
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- Read more about the life of Pope Francis
- What happens when a pope dies
- Funeral rites, a celebration of hope, to begin on Monday
Others from around our diocese reflect on Pope Francis' life and legacy:
Bishop Emeritus Peter Jugis
In 2016 Pope Francis blessed the Church with a marvelous gift of his pontificate, the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. He asked us to celebrate in our lives the loving mercy of God who gives us His Son Jesus to be our merciful Savior and Redeemer. The theme for that Jubilee Year of Mercy was Jesus’ command, “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.” To honor Pope Francis and his memory and give glory to God, let us follow the Holy Father’s encouragement from that Jubilee Year and “embrace God’s mercy and dedicate ourselves to being merciful with others as the Father has been with us.” (Misericordiae vultus, 14).
Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari, Belmont Abbey
This second day of the Easter Octave has brought the sad news of the death of Pope Francis. Easter is, however, a blessed time for Pope Francis to complete his service and go home to the Lord. The church was blessed that Pope Francis just yesterday on Easter Sunday imparted what was to be his final blessing to the church and the world. Our monastic and college communities join in praying for Pope Francis and in giving thanks for his life of service to the Church as a consecrated religious, priest, bishop and, ultimately, as chief pastor of Christ's flock.
Father Mark Lawlor, pastor, St. Therese Church, Mooresville
I remember well the excitement that accompanied his election and installation. He was the first pope from Latin America, which is a large portion of the universal Church. Pope Francis’ style has been seen as humble. He decided to live in the Vatican guest house, in lieu of the Apostolic Palace. He was seen doing small things such a carrying his own suitcase and riding the bus with the other cardinals after his election. His ministry goals have been inclusive and open… I appreciate his wisdom and thoughtfulness.
Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Monroe
I will always remember Pope Francis as a preacher. From the first moment of his pontificate, he broke open the Word of God and encouraged all of us, by his writings and example, to proclaim the Joy of the Gospel. His homily at the Easter Vigil in 2014 is one of the great treasures of preaching in the Church's history. He preached resurrection, personal encounter, a path to renewal and holiness, mercy, and mission. Pope Francis showed us in that homily how he was going to lead for the remainder of his life.
Father John Putnam, pastor, St. Mark, Huntersville
At the heart of his ministry was a constant refrain: mercy, mercy, mercy. In this Holy Father was a shepherd who longs to lift burdens, not add to them. A pastor who weeps with the suffering and stands with the forgotten. A father who tells us again and again God never tires of forgiving us, it is we who tire of asking for forgiveness.
Gerry Carter, executive director and CEO, Catholic Charities of Diocese of Charlotte
Over the past 12 years of his pontificate, Pope Francis has been a huge inspiration for me personally and in my work with Catholic Charities. From the moment of his election, I was motivated and encouraged by his focus on welcoming those residing on the peripheries. That emphasis really resonated with me. His words and actions pushed me to set aside notions I might have which separated people into convenient categories.
Sister Lucy Hennessy, mission leader and chair of the board of directors at Pennybyrn
He was a man of humility and compassion and spoke so often of God’s mercy and love. Over and over again, he reminded us that our God is a God of Mercy, full of compassion and love. How comforting these attributes of God are now for us to ponder on, as we mourn the death of dear Pope Francis. Now that he is in his eternal home, we ask him to continue to pray for his beloved Church here on this earth.
Laura Townsend Jones, Refugee Resettlement Director, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte
Pope Francis was consistently a beacon of hope and love in a tumultuous world. His support for refugees and immigrants – and those of us who have dedicated our lives to supporting them and welcoming these strangers into our community – was inspirational and gave us strength and clarity that we are, in fact, serving God's will regarding preserving the dignity of the human person. Pope Francis' words set the example, to ‘live in solidarity and fraternity, to build bridges that bring us ever closer together, to avoid walls of ignominy and to learn to give our lives as Jesus Christ gave his for the salvation of all.’ We will miss his compassionate spirit and his guidance.
Sandra Breakfield, director of the Elder Ministry Program, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte
I had the privilege of traveling to Rome in 2020 to attend the first International Congress on Pastoral Care of the Elderly, titled ‘The Richness of Many Years of Life.’ During this event, Pope Francis addressed the participants, and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be in the presence of such a holy man.
Through his actions, works and words, guided by his faith and commitment to all people, Pope Francis has provided an extraordinary example and direction. We at Catholic Charities Elder Ministry are humbled by his leadership as we continue to strive to provide a ministry with, for, and by seniors.
Sister Rose Marie Tresp, Sisters of Mercy
From the moment that Pope Francis stepped out onto the balcony of Saint Peter’s to give his first blessings to the crowd gathered below, his simpler dress, his request for prayers, his humility and simplicity were an inspiration to me. At his first Holy Thursday the Pope washed the feet of 10 male and two female juvenile offenders, not all Catholic. This immediately indicated that change was coming… Then the Pope’s first visit outside the Vatican was to Lampedusa to greet the migrants landing on the shore. Since I was heavily involved in advocacy for reform of the U.S. immigration laws, this gave me hope.
I will deeply miss Pope Francis but as I am nearer the end of my life than the beginning, I hope to follow him in continuing to be engaged with people, with service and with humor.
Rick Rotondi, founder of Cenacle
I was blessed to encounter Pope Francis at a General Audience on March 23, 2016, during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. As a Catholic publishing executive, I had the extraordinary honor of being ushered to a place in St. Peter’s Square about 20 yards from the Holy Father’s dais…Pope Francis came to my section about 20 minutes after his address. I was able to kiss his ring, give him a copy of the Doors of Mercy program I helped produce, and thank him for the Jubilee Year. What struck me were his eyes, clear, brown, youthful. They radiated both warmth and intelligence, qualities not often combined in such high degree. ‘Pray for me,’ the Holy Father asked, as he did so often in his encounters. Then he added, ‘Don’t forget!’
John Harrison meeting the pope last year
John Harrison, seminarian, describing a February 2025 visit to the pope in the hospital
After seeing his condition worsen in the hospital, Ronan, Gabriel and I, along with some guys from different dioceses, all decided to go to the hospital to visit him and pray for him there on Friday, the 21st. Of course, we were not permitted to go see him in person, but we were able to have a letter given to him. We then prayed a rosary together for him outside the hospital. It was an honor to show our support for the Holy Father during this critical time, and to do so representing everyone back at home. Above getting to visit him in person, what is most important is that we prayed a rosary for him, commending him to the protection and care of our Holy Mother, Mary.
Douglas R. Greene, director, Jewish Community Relations, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
We know that Pope Francis’ leadership, humility, and unwavering commitment to compassion and justice have been a guiding light not only for the Catholic Church but for the world. His legacy as a bridge-builder, a voice for the marginalized, and a champion of interfaith understanding will endure for generations.
The Right Rev. Sam Rodman and The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson, bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
We are deeply saddened at the news of the death of Pope Francis. His spiritual leadership and voice for justice has been a gift to the church and a light to the world. His compassion and openness have helped model the kind of servant leadership Jesus embodied. And his willingness to challenge all of us with the Gospel values of care for the most vulnerable, and to use power to promote healing are hallmarks of his papacy.
We give thanks today for the legacy of his leadership, the faithfulness of his witness, his heart which touched us, and his smile which reminded us to hold ourselves lightly. We hold Pope Francis in our hearts, and we pray for our Roman Catholic siblings as we grieve together and continue to place our hope in the resurrection promise of Jesus.
As we entrust Pope Francis to God’s eternal care, we are again reminded of the name he chose for himself when he became pope, and the saint whose life was a model of self-sacrifice and love, and whose prayer in The Book of Common Prayer (p. 833) invites us all to become instruments of God’s peace.
The Rev. Dr. Timothy M. Smith, Bishop of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Pope Francis is, honestly, the first pope I’ve ever considered ‘my pope, our pope’ as ELCA Lutherans. What stands out the most to me in addition to his constant advocacy in behalf of the marginalized, and most recently refugees, has been his direct support of and even directive to Roman Catholics everywhere in 2017 to join with Lutheran siblings in faith to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. The Roman Catholic Church is our mother, and while there is much yet that divides us, Pope Francis helped give us a glimpse and reminder that we are all part of the body of Christ. For this, I and we are eternally grateful and hopeful.
Rev. LeDayne McLeese Polaski, executive director, MeckMIN (Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network)
As a Protestant Christian and as an interfaith leader, I have been deeply grateful for the life and ministry of Pope Francis, a man so obviously grounded in a deep commitment to and relationship with Jesus and so steadfastly committed to the hard work of interreligious dialogue and cooperation.
During Mass on Monday at St. Peter Church in Charlotte, Jesuit Father Tim Stephens, pastor, reflected on the legacy of the pope. A fellow Jesuit, the pope “will continue to inspire us to serve as merciful shepherds, especially among those who live at the peripheries of society.”
Jesuit Father Tim Stephens, pastor, St. Peter Church, Charlotte
The Jesuits serving in Charlotte and throughout the world mourn not only the passing of our Holy Father, but also a beloved brother. As we pray for him, he will continue to inspire us to serve as merciful shepherds, especially among those who live at the peripheries of society.
Father John Eckert, pastor, Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury
I think he reveled in being a personal messenger of that mercy that we know is unfathomable but grow weary in seeking. Like Pope Francis, I hope to be able to continue drawing great joy in serving and loving the sheep entrusted to my care.
Kara Griffin, Diocese of Charlotte Human Trafficking Awareness Committee
His teachings and especially his encyclicals were written as urgent messages to all people in the world so that we all may hear more clearly the cries of the Earth, and for our eyes to open wider to the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters.
— Catholic News Herald