Cardinals throughout the English-speaking world offered tributes and condolences after the death of Pope Francis on Tuesday, April 21.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, wrote that he was "honored to participate in the conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013, and to have welcomed him here to New York in 2015."
Pope Francis visited New York, Washington, and Philadelphia in 2015 during his trip to the United States.
Francis, said Cardinal Dolan, "touched us all with his simplicity, with his heart of a humble servant."
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, wrote, "The finest memorial we can offer is to re-form our hearts as Pope Francis asked - to see our brothers and sisters, to listen to them and to offer our prayers and actions that all may experience the fullness of God’s promise."
Pope Francis' death, said the Chicago leader, is a "moment of profound loss for me personally and for the Church."
Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, offered a similar sentiment.
Cardinal Tobin remembered Pope Francis as "a man of deep faith, profound humility, and unshakable hope — a servant whose tireless call to care for the poor and the marginalized will continue to inspire the Church for generations to come."
Pope Francis, said Cardinal Tobin, was "a shepherd who walked closely with God’s people and never tired of reminding us of God’s mercy."
"May we honor his memory by building a Church that reflects the face of Jesus — merciful, welcoming, and always near to those on the margins," he added.
Francis' first Americans
Both Cupich and Tobin were elevated to the College of Cardinals on November 19, 2016, Pope Francis' third consistory. The two, along with Irish-born American citizen Cardinal Kevin Farrell, were the first Americans who Francis elevated to the College of Cardinals. Cardinal Farrell, now serving in the Curia in Rome, is currently the camerlengo, the official responsible for the Vatican while the See of Peter is empty. He will oversee the conclave that will choose the next pope.
Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop emeritus of Washington, DC, and his successor, Cardinal Robert McElroy, were also both created cardinal by Pope Francis.
McElroy said Pope Francis was "a true shepherd of souls, a beacon of unwavering hope, and a voice of penetrating truth."
"From the very first moments of his service to the universal Church, Pope Francis enshrined the mercy of God at the heart of his proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ," he said. "In doing so, he illuminated with new depth the pastoral dimension of the Church’s mission, which is rooted first in embracing love rather than in judgment."
Pope Francis, said McElroy, was a "prophetic advocate for the poor and the dispossessed, the unborn and the immigrant, the victims of war and the earth which is our common home."
"It was this love also that animated his tender personal care for all those whom he encountered personally in their suffering," he said.
Francis' vision of a "synodal Church," said McElroy, "stands as an enduring legacy of Pope Francis in his fidelity to the Second Vatican Council and its call to preach the Gospel in the modern world. It provides a clear foundation for the journey of God’s people in the years which are to come."
Canada and England
Cardinal Frank Leo, Archbishop of Toronto, said in a statement that the Pope's "humility, compassion and care for others" was a "powerful witness and a reminder of our daily call to reflect the face of Jesus to all those whom we encounter."
Leo encouraged all who mourn Pope Francis to "honour his legacy and lovingly embrace his invitation to be missionaries of mercy, sharing the light of Christ in abundance as we affirm the dignity of every human life and foster a culture of care and love."
In a joint interview, two of the three voting-age cardinals from England remembered Pope Francis as a man who cared for others and wanted the Church to be a welcoming place.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, and Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe O.P., former Master of the Dominicans, each weighed in on their thoughts on the pope's passing.
Pope Francis' death on Easter Monday was an act of providence, said Nichols.
"The Paschal candle, the symbol of the risen Christ, is burning brightly today. It’s almost as if the Lord wants to say to us, yes that’s true. There is a victory over death. And while our hearts are full of that, he takes this action of calling home a very precious servant," he said.
Pope Francis, said Cardinal Radcliffe, had a “profound desire to make everybody seem welcome" that was rooted in his belief that everyone was made "in the image and likeness of God."
