Statement from Father Edward Hathaway on the Death of Pope Francis
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The death of Pope Francis means the Catholic Church has lost its chief shepherd, the Vicar of Christ on earth. The Holy Father desired to be a good and faithful servant of God, who emphasized the power of God’s mercy and encouraged us to spread the Joy of the Gospel as missionary disciples in the midst of the world, including the peripheries and margins of society. We commend his soul to eternal rest in the embrace of the God he served so completely, and we offer to God the sacrifice of prayers on his behalf.
The period between the death of a Pope and the election of his successor is formally referred to as “The Vacancy of the Apostolic See,” or Sede Vacante. It is also referred to as the Interregnum, from the Latin for “between the reign (of one Pope and another).”
As a result, there will be a change in the Eucharist Prayer during Mass. The pope’s name, and the entire phrase referring to the pope, is omitted from this prayer during the period of the Sede Vacante.
The Basilica has followed the normal customs during the nine days typically set aside for mourning during a Pope’s death. On the day he died, April 21, we tolled the bells 88 times – the number of years the Holy Father lived – and will do so again on Friday, April 25, following the 12:10 p.m. Mass, the day before his funeral in Rome. We have placed black bunting around the front doors of the church. We have placed a photo of him, with flowers and candles, next to the sanctuary. And I offered a private Mass for the Holy Father on Monday, as did Father Searby in Rome, where he has been this week with Basilica parishioners on an Easter pilgrimage.
I also wanted to invite you this Friday, April 25, to attend the 12:10 p.m. Mass. Afterward, you’re invited to pray during a Choral Rosary, as we meditate on the Glorious Mysteries of our Lord for the happy repose of the soul of Pope Francis with musical meditations, led by Basilica Music Director David Elliott and two members of our Schola Cantorum, after each decade.
Although it is customary for us to mourn and be sad while we don’t have a Vicar of Christ on earth, we remember how Mary Magdalene went to the tomb on Easter Sunday and wept when she didn’t see the Lord there. Love can make us sad at times. At the death of our loved ones, our imperfect faith can lead us to lose hope or despair.
But, rest assured, Christ’s resurrection from the dead reminds us that Jesus is alive and remains with us. We are never alone. This is the hope that should uplift us, especially since we are in a Jubilee Year, whose theme – “Pilgrims of Hope,” which Pope Francis selected – is worth remembering and putting into action in our lives.
His words in announcing the Jubilee year resonate as we await the selection of the next Pope: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart, and far-sighted vision.”
In the meantime, please keep Pope Francis in your prayers. Although Saint Catherine of Siena referred to popes as “the sweet Christ on earth,” let us not forget that he was, like us, a fellow pilgrim. Saint Augustine puts it more poetically: “For you, I am a bishop; with you, after all, I am a Christian.”
One way to intentionally pray for Pope Francis and all the souls in purgatory is to offer one of your plenary indulgences on his behalf. Because 2025 was named a Jubilee Year by Pope Francis – and the Basilica has been designated as a Holy Place where pilgrims who visit can receive a Plenary Indulgence, which remits all temporal punishment due to sin – anyone who prays in the Basilica for a suitable amount of time can offer a plenary indulgence on behalf of the souls in purgatory. Click here to access a simple guide to learn how to receive an indulgence while visiting the Basilica.
Also, please pray for Father Searby, who is on a pilgrimage in Italy with Basilica parishioners until April 27, and also pray for Alex Solsma and Aaron Zanca, Basilica parishioners, who will be ordained as transitional deacons on April 26 at a time that the Church is without a Pope.
Even though the Chair of Peter sits empty today, let us have hope for the future, knowing that the power of the Holy Spirit will move among the Cardinals selecting our next Pope. If you want to keep abreast of the news during this process, turn to respected Catholic sources of information, such as EWTN or the National Catholic Register.
As we pray today for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father, we do so with the words from the Roman Missal:
“O, God, who, in Your wondrous Providence, chose your servant, Pope Francis, to preside over Your Church, grant, we pray, that, having served as the Vicar of Your Son on earth, he may be welcomed by Him into eternal glory, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.”
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Hathaway