Boston Archbishop Richard Henning took the lead at St. Theresa's Parish in West Roxbury for a mass dedicated to Pope Francis, who recently passed away. This mass is the precursor to Henning's journey to Rome to attend the pontiff's funeral, as Boston25 News reported. As the spiritual leader of the Boston Archdiocese, Henning expressed his intent to carry the spirit of Boston's faithful to the Vatican during this pivotal moment, reinforcing the impact Pope Francis had on both the church and the global community.
Across the ocean, the world prepares to bid farewell to the Argentine pontiff, known for his progressive ideals and a compassionate stance towards the underprivileged, the Vatican seeing an unprecedented flow of mourners prompting consideration for longer viewing hours; as one Boston local, Nancy Geourntas put it, Pope Francis was "a really humble priest" who wasn't about seeking accolades, according to a statement obtained by Boston25 News.
In Massachusetts, the Boston Archdiocese's planned trio of masses continues, with the next service at Immaculate Conception Parish in Lowell and the final mass at St. James Church in Stoughton, as detailed by the WCVB. This series of spiritual gatherings is a testament to the profound influence of the 'people's pope,' and provides a space for reflection and prayer for the Roman Catholic community within Massachusetts to mourn their leader.
As Henning prepares to stand among global leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Saturday funeral, the local faithful are echoing the sentiments of figures like the Rev. John Conolly and Sister Margaret Obrovac who praised the late pope's humility and encouragement; Pope Francis' approachable and inclusive nature left an indelible mark which, according to Conolly's statement to WCVB, was respected and relatable across the globe due to his attention to the personal and the mundane alongside the spiritual and global.
