Pope Francis remembered in central Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – One day after delivering the traditional Easter blessing Sunday morning and meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, Pope Francis died at the age of 88.

“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, who takes charge after a pontiff’s death.

As news of the Pope’s death spread, reaction quickly poured in from central Ohio and beyond, including a statement submitted to The Catholic Times from the Columbus Diocese.

“My heart is saddened at the passing of Pope Francis, and I mourn with my brothers and sisters all over the world,” Bishop of Columbus Reverend Earl Fernandes said in the statement. “The Holy Father consistently emphasized care for our common home and human fraternity: the need to see one another as brothers and sisters. We would do well to learn from his wisdom.”

Vance, who met with Pope Francis briefly on Easter Sunday, expressed his condolences on the platform X.

“I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.”

Vance was embroiled in a long-distance spat with the Pope over the Trump administration’s migrant deportation plans. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, and the pope have tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administration’s plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy.

Ohio republican Senator Bernie Moreno also posted a message on X, which said, "Pope Francis was a tireless advocate for the dignity of life and service to others. His legacy will continue to inspire others as he inspired Catholics all over the world."