Today, Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati join Catholics and all people of faith around the world in praying for the soul of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. The Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati mourns his recent death.
Most Reverend Robert G. Casey, Archbishop of Cincinnati, has released the following statement:
“As we commend a good and faithful servant to God, let us remember that Pope Francis proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee Year of Hope — awakening us to Christ, who is alive and present in our midst. In the words of the Psalmist: “Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart, and hope in the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14). May we, then, be filled with hope — hope that Pope Francis will receive the reward of a life poured out in selfless service and love for God’s people and all creation; hope that Christ, who comforts us in our mourning, will send the Holy Spirit to be our Helper; and hope that this same Spirit will inspire and unite us as the Church to stand firm in faith, proclaiming the power of the Resurrection and the joy of the Gospel.”
Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop Emeritus of Cincinnati, has released the following statement upon the death of Pope Francis:
“Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul of our beloved Pope Francis, who was Vicar of Christ, the successor of St. Peter and a faithful shepherd of Christ’s Church. The Holy Father will long be remembered for his great compassion for the elderly, the sick, the unborn, the persecuted and all those on the margins of society. He continuously reminded us that we are the stewards of God’s creation and not its master. And he was an unwavering champion of world peace. After a life dedicated to proclaiming the Good News of our Lord’s saving love for us, may Pope Francis now inherit the reward of eternal rest with God.”
Following the announcement of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, on February 13, 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina was elected pope on the second day of the subsequent conclave, March 13, 2013. Taking the name Francis, he was the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere and first pope from the Americas. Pope Francis was the first non-European elected in almost 1,300 years. Pope Francis was the 265th successor of St. Peter.
Pope Francis was born on Dec. 17, 1936. He died April 21, 2025 at the age of 88.
Further information about Pope Francis can be found here: https://www.usccb.org/pope-francis-timeline
