The Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens will honor the life and legacy of Pope Francis with a Vigil Mass of Repose on Friday, April 25, at Saint Bartholomew Church in Elmhurst.
Bishop Robert Brennan will preside over the bilingual English and Spanish liturgy at 43-22 Ithaca St. at 6:30 p.m. The service will be live-streamed on the parish’s Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.
Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, was known by many Catholics as a progressive pope. He is remembered fondly for meeting with people of all religious backgrounds and focusing on inclusivity, often vocalizing that the Catholic Church should be more welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community.
Many Queens residents look back on his historic visit to New York City in September 2015, when he received a warm reception from Catholics and many others of all faiths as soon as his plane touched down at JFK Airport.
Elected officials around the borough reacted to his passing with both sadness and reminiscence and took to social media to express their collective grief.
Council Member Robert Holden, who represents District 30, remembered Pope Francis for his everlasting care for the world.
“I join Catholics across the world in mourning the passing of His Eminence Pope Francis,” he wrote. “His devotion to service, faith, and the most vulnerable among us left a lasting mark. May he rest in eternal peace.”
District 19 Council Member Vickie Paladino shared a similar message of unity and remembrance as she paid tribute to the Pope.
“On this Easter Monday, we celebrate the life of our Pope, for some, a shining beacon of hope to countless hearts. Some regarded him as the people’s Pope, others as the transitional Pope,” Paladino said.
“At this moment, let us put aside our differences and unite in prayer. May his enduring legacy inspire us and may he rest in eternal peace. For me, it’s about embracing the historical process as we prepare for the next chapter.”
Joann Ariola, who represents District 32 in Queens, referred to Pope Francis as “a strong advocate for the poor around the world” and added: “May he rest in peace.”
Senator Jessica Ramos, who covers the District 13 neighborhoods of Corona, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights, looked back fondly on the Pope’s impact on modern society.
“I will remember Pope Francis as a compassionate leader, who re-centred the Church’s focus on compassion, fighting poverty, and leading with an open heart,” she wrote. “He showed us a Church that was intent on loving all of God’s children. Descanza en Paz, Papa Francisco.”
Meanwhile, Assembly Member Steven Raga, representing Assembly District 30, shared a strong message to focus on Francis’s unique approach to the Catholic Church.
“Pope Francis was a fearless moral voice in a world too often hardened by injustice. His compassion for the poor, the displaced, and the forgotten moved millions across faiths and borders,” Raga remarked.
“He reminded us that humility, mercy, and justice are not signs of weakness, but of true strength. May his light continue to guide us.”
Finally, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards shared a quote to mark the Pope’s death: “Be the first to seek to bring good. Do not grow accustomed to evil, but defeat it with good.”
Richards also called Pope Francis “one of the world’s powerful and important advocates for tolerance, decency and basic human rights.”
He continued by reminiscing about attending the Pope’s mass at Madison Square Garden in 2015.
“To everyone in Queens mourning the loss of Pope Francis, let’s do our best to live His Holiness’ legacy of respect, community and goodness every single day,” Richards added.
Pope Francis’ body is currently lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica until his funeral on Saturday, April 26, in St. Peter’s Square.
Following the funeral, he will be interred at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, honoring his personal wish and marking a departure from the tradition of papal burials in St. Peter’s Basilica.
