Saint Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix hosted a special mass this past Sunday to honor the legacy of Pope Francis. Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix led the ceremony, echoing the late Pope's message. "Pope Francis was heavily focused on mercy and hope," Bishop Dolan explained in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.
The service, infused with the spirit of reaching out to the neglected and imparting God's mercy, coincidentally aligned with the octave of Easter, culminating on Divine Mercy Sunday. According to AZ Central, Bishop Dolan spoke to worshippers, sharing Pope Francis's words: "Mercy is the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness."
Over in Rome, more than a quarter-million people attended the Pope's funeral to pay their respects. Bishop Dolan told FOX 10 Phoenix about Pope Francis's final resting place, "He was buried there in Rome yesterday, in a very simple spot, which is really a reflection of the person himself."
Bishop Dolan emphasized Francis's connection with the overlooked and impoverished. Dolan recalled to reporters outside the Cathedral, as reported by AZ Central, "He just loved the poor. He loved the people who were forgotten, who fell through the cracks." Adding to the narrative of Francis's unorthodox approach, Dolan mentioned how the Pope would personally make phone calls instead of using intermediaries, saying, "There were no barriers. He would cross borders and people were challenged by that."
With Pope Francis's burial concluded, the conversation turns to his successor. The process for electing the new pope is slated to begin May 6. Bishop Dolan hinted at a couple of names being mentioned, like Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Cardinal Luis Tagle, expressing the unpredictable nature of the papal conclave. "When these cardinals, if they think that they’re going in — they go in as a pope and they come out as a cardinal," Dolan told AZ Central. He concluded with a nod to the divine, stating, "the most important person in that room is the third person of the Holy Trinity — the Holy Spirit."
