Hundreds of faithful filled the pews of Manhattan’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday for a solemn Mass in honor of Pope Francis, whose death on Easter Monday at the age of 88 sent the global Catholic community into mourning.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan led the service with reverence from the altar, bearing a framed photograph of Francis, saying that the pontiff’s passing was like a “death in the family.”
“We didn’t call him Holy Father for nothing,” Dolan said from the pulpit, addressing the congregation of civic leaders, parishioners, and leaders of Jewish and Muslim faith in attendance. “That prayer for consolation has already been answered in so many ways, as he returned to the home of his Father on the day after Easter.”
Numerous dignitaries from across the area participated in the Mass, including Mayor Eric Adams and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.
Dolan, who will soon depart for Rome to attend the papal funeral Saturday and take part in the conclave to elect Francis’ successor, asked for prayers during what he described as a time of both mourning and mission.
“Mass this afternoon for us, children of Abraham, is a time of tears and smiles,” he said. “Times of loss are gain, times of sadness, our joy always comes — a time of prayer. Prayer. That’s what unites us this afternoon.”
Pope Francis’ body is currently lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica until Saturday’s funeral in St. Peter’s Square, according to The Holy See press office. 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.
The late pontiff, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, served as Pope since 2013 and was widely admired for his humility, compassion, and reform-minded approach to leadership. Dolan recalled meeting him during the conclave that elected him 12 years ago and noted that their relationship deepened during Pope Francis’ visit to New York in 2015 – his first time in the United States.
“He was amazed at the size of New York,” Dolan said, smiling at the memory. “He would look out at the ecstatic crowds and say, ‘But they all come to see me.’ He loved it, like he was surprised, and I was so happy with that. To this day, every time I saw him, he would say, ‘I will never forget my visit to New York.’”
Pope Francis, Dolan said, was unafraid to show vulnerability, a trait he described as a source of strength.
“He was comfortable enough to let us see his weakness, his fragility, his stumbling, in a wheelchair with his oxygen tube,” Dolan said. “Confident enough to let us see the struggle.”
Asked after the Mass who he believes is most likely to be elected the next Pope, Dolan shrugged off speculation. “There’s only one person who knows—the Holy Spirit,” he said. “We’ve got to figure out what the Holy Spirit wants, and that’s a heavy responsibility.”
He added that once the College of Cardinals assembles in Rome, they will spend days in prayer and discussion, learning from one another about “the good that’s going on in our local churches… and the challenges that we’ve got,” until a two-thirds majority of the 135 cardinals elect a successor among the pool.
“Whoever the new pope will be,” Dolan said, “we have to make sure that he has that same winning style that Pope Francis did.”
Among the faithful in the cathedral Tuesday was Rosemary Chester, a Manhattan parishioner who returned to the city’s iconic church for what she called a moment of profound personal importance.
“Pope Francis, in my esteem, was the most caring, wonderful pope ever,” Chester said, noting her concern that the next Pope might take the Church down a different path.
The Mass concluded quietly, with many lingering in their seats long after the final hymn, some with bowed heads, others lighting candles in silent reflection.
The most famous Catholic Church in the US remained open for mourners to pay their respects, as they have continued to do since news broke Monday.
“I can preach a lot longer,” Dolan told the crowd, “but Pope Francis always spoke about priests preaching too long.”
