PHOENIX — The death of Pope Francis is reverberating through religious communities around the world, including in the Valley.
For Father John R. Muir, Vicar General for the Diocese of Phoenix, the loss felt deeply personal.
“It’s like the loss of a father and loss of a family member,” Muir told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Monday. “Pope Francis has been a man of a lot of surprises over his pontificate and he’s kind of surprised us with his depth so it’s gonna be a tough week.”
Muir said he was most impressed by Francis’ concern for people of all different backgrounds.
“He was a man who was constantly asking the church to get out of the comfort zone and reach out to those who maybe we hadn’t done such a good job reaching out to,” Muir said. “He was constantly reminding us to be merciful, loving, tender and to be more like (Jesus) Christ himself.
“The thing I loved about Pope Francis is that he walked the walk. He didn’t just teach through what he said; he was a master teacher at gestures and the way he loved people.”
How will the church pick its next pope?
Muir said churches around the world will enter a mourning period for nine days. Following Francis’ funeral, a large number of cardinals will oversee the election of a new pope. They will likely consider candidates that have continuity with Francis, Muir said.
“The number of cardinals that Pope Francis appointed himself and will be electing is very large,” Muir said. “I think it’s very likely that you’re gonna see the cardinals want to elect someone who’s got a lot of continuity with Pope Francis because they themselves were elected by him.”
Bishop John Dolan speaks on Pope Francis’ death
Diocese of Phoenix Bishop John Dolan also released a statement on Francis’s death on Monday, saying he was impressed the most for his concern toward people with mental health struggles.
“I was particularly moved by his deep concern for the oppressed, the poorest of the poor and those who struggle with mental health,” Dolan said in a press release.
“His witness to Christ’s love and mercy brought hope to so many who felt forgotten. At a time when the Church risked turning inward, Pope Francis was the right hope — calling us to reclaim our ecumenical and interreligious spirit of dialogue.”
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