The Charlotte Catholic community is in mourning following the death of Pope Francis, who was remembered across the city this week for his impactful papacy. In an evening filled with solemnity and reflection, parishioners gathered at St. Matthew Catholic Church. "He was just a great example of what Catholicism is and a wonderful representation of our love," Lauren Howes told QCNews.
Attending the service was James Smith, who, filled with memories of seeing the pontiff, hailed him as "the closest thing to God" in his opinion. Smith praised the Pope's approach during his tenure, describing him as "the pope of the people." In mourning the 88-year-old's passing, it was clear that the congregants both celebrated his service and grieved his loss, a duality remarked upon by Howes, who hoped for "a new papacy" to emerge from this moment of sorrow, according to the same report by QCNews.
Pope Francis had touched many with his efforts towards inclusivity and social justice, and this sentiment was echoed across the region. Bishop Michael Martin at Saint Patrick Cathedral in Dilworth remembered the Pope saying, "He will be remembered as someone who tried his best to focus our attention on people who maybe don’t often enough have the attention that they should, especially people on the margins," in a statement obtained by WCCB Charlotte. Michael Kraftcheck, a Charlotte resident, lauded the Pope's welcoming stance towards the LGBTQ community, "As a queer person who practices Catholicism just, like his openness and love for my community."
Pope Francis' interaction with political figures also spoke volumes about his papacy. Vice President JD Vance, having been one of the last world leaders to meet with Pope Francis, might have experienced "more of a rebuke" of his moral standing, suggested Eric Hoenes del Pinal, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at UNC Charlotte, in remarks to WCCB Charlotte. While the community reviews the Pope's hallmark humility and focus on moral responsibility, Charlotte's Catholics look to the future, with the Conclave to select the next Pope anticipated after a period of mourning for the leader who hailed from outside Europe and strove to make the church more inclusive. "He gave a lot of hope to people who felt like maybe they that the church had forgotten about them," Kelly Flowers from Charlotte told WCCB Charlotte.
Detailing the shock of the Pope's death, Pat McLaughlin, a two-decade attendee of St. Gabriel Church on Providence Road, told WSOCTV about the moment he learned of the Pontiff's passing. The feeling of surprise was widespread, yet the hope for the future remained unshaken.
