Canberra members of the Catholic Church mourn Pope Francis as a 'compassionate and great leader'

Australia Broadcast Center

22-04-2025

Pope Francis has been described as merciful and humble by members of the Catholic Church in Canberra following his death yesterday at the age of 88.
The Pope was still recovering from double pneumonia when he died from a
It came as a shock, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Canberra Christopher Prowse said, as the Pope had made an appearance at St Peter's Square to bless those gathered for Easter Sunday in Rome.
"The passing of Pope Francis has been a bit of a shock, although we knew he was very very ill, but there he was on Easter Sunday, he gave his blessing to Rome and to the world," Archbishop Prowse said.
An angelus was held at St Christopher's in Manuka today, to mourn the leader of the Catholic Church.
A coach to the world
Archbishop Prowse said the Pope was akin to the Holy Spirit in the way he "comforted and disrupted" the Catholic Church.
In the same year, the Pope made a landmark ruling by allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples.
An angelus service was held at St Christopher's Cathedral in Manuka, with dozens of Canberra residents attending.
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"Pope Francis in his leadership comforted especially for those on the periphery and with refugees," the Archbishop said.
"But he also disrupted, he took us up and said 'no no no, we've got to go closer, to see the light from those who are on the periphery, the lost, the last and the least' and that's exactly what he taught us and will continue to teach us."
The Archbishop also remembered the Pope's accessibility and closeness with Catholics across the world.
"If I could use a football analogy, he wasn't so much a boundary umpire, he was more of a coach and the coach here is not just to the Catholic Church, but also to the world,"
he said.
"He coached the world, onto deeper principles on what truly makes life dignified, and gives hope to the hopeless," he said.
'The church is a place for everyone'
Canberra residents attended an angelus at St Christopher's to pray for the Pope.
Aidan Pitt attended, he said Pope Francis had a resounding impact on his spirituality.
"He encouraged me to reach out to the entire flock of the world… [he reminded us] that the church is a place for everyone," he said.
Aidan Pitt attended St Christopher's today to remember and pray for Pope Francis.
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Director at a Canberra Catholic Preschool, Beth Lehmenisch agreed.
"He really lived the values of Jesus by reaching out to the outcasts, those who are on our margins, people in prison, women, the LGBTQI community as well and just making sure we're treating people as humans first,"
she said.
Tony Bracken, Deputy Director of Catholic Education Canberra- Goulburn, said the Pope's joining in in Easter events demonstrated his dedication.
Tony Bracken said he valued Pope Francis's presence and leadership.
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"Thinking about it, the fact that he actually attended the Easter services and then passed away is incredible, a last act of service from a very popular, very charitable, compassionate, great leader," he said.