'He touched a lot of lives.' Indianapolis Archbishop elevated by Pope Francis reflects on loss

Indianapolis Star

22-04-2025

A day after the world learned of Pope Francis' death at 88 years old, Indianapolis Archbishop Charles C. Thompson shared stories and reflected on the legacy of the Holy Father.
'He touched a lot of lives, especially in these 12 years of his pontificate, when he really spoke out especially for the poor and the marginalized, migrants (and) refugees. Just all those things (society) so often forgets and pushes aside,' Thompson said.
'He really captured the imagination of a lot of people.'
His death came as a shock to the world. After months of being in the hospital, it appeared that Pope Francis' health had significantly improved by Easter Sunday.
He made an appearance at Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City after the Vatican celebrated Easter Mass, to bless tens of thousands awaiting his arrival.
Monday morning, his death was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber. Pope Francis suffered a stroke and heart failure.
Although Archbishop Thompson was saddened by the death of Pope Francis, he found his death on Easter Monday a bit poetic.
"He dies at the time of resurrection, he suffered with Christ and now he rises with Christ. Now he lives eternally with the risen Lord who gives victory for us over sin and death," Thompson said.
"What a powerful thing, that his last (action) was to give that blessing and then to die in the night. I think that's how Pope Francis would have wanted to go."
Archbishop Thompson and Pope Francis
When asked if Pope Francis had affected the lives of Catholics living in Indiana, Archbishop Thompson laughed and joked, 'For better or for worse, you got me.'
Thompson was appointed as the Archbishop of Indianapolis by Pope Francis on June 13, 2017, after the Pope elevated the then-Archbishop of Indianapolis, Joseph W. Tobin, to a Cardinal.
Cardinal Tobin was then installed in Newark, New Jersey.
'He had a contagious smile,' Thompson said.
Throughout his life, Thompson met with Pope Francis on three occasions, but the most meaningful meeting was when Thompson received his pallium from the Holy Father after being made an Archbishop.
The pallium is a white woolen cloth hanging around an Archbishop's neck.
'It was very powerful. I remember thinking that the pallium represents my responsibilities of communion with the bishops of my province, which is all of Indiana,' Thompson said.
'Throughout that liturgy, I was thinking about the weight I was carrying in this new role, but then I saw him with his. An Archbishop only wears his pallium in his province, so (for me) in the state of Indiana.'
'The Holy Father wears his around the world because his province is the whole world. And I remember thinking… if he can still be smiling (while) carrying the weight of the world, I can wear mine in the state of Indiana.'
Pope Francis' impact on the Church
While the Church follows the teaching of Jesus Christ, the Pope is meant to lead the Church regarding its morals, teachings and decisions regarding Church doctrine.
Although it's too early to define the true extent of Pope Francis' legacy on the Church, Thompson highlighted the Pope's push on religious leaders in the Church to be a 'missionary option for the poor 'and for Bishops to be a part of their communities.
'He reminded us to be with our people. It's not about going to other places and doing other things, but to make sure that we don't leave our own people unattended,' Thompson said.
'He talked about a missionary option that we are to go out and be missionaries, not to worry about being clean and neat, even when the messiness, the muck of life.'
Thompson believed that the Pope's Magna Carta for the church could be found in the first book he wrote, 'Evangelii Gaudium' or the Joy of the Gospel. Specifically, the idea that all members of the church, including bishops, priests and followers of Christ, should engage in prayerful listening, discernment and discussion surrounding the future of the Church.
'Not only as a church, but I think he really saw that as the world needed. We're such a polarized world, there's so much divisiveness and we can't even dialog with each other,' he said.
'Pope Francis realized that people need to be brought back together to have a dialogue and to mend relationships.'
Beyond his teachings, Thompson believes Pope Francis' legacy will be felt in the future of the church, as Pope Francis appointed 110 cardinal electors who will participate in the conclave.
The conclave is the process in which Cardinals from around the world meet in the Vatican City to elect the next Pope. Out of the 140 cardinals eligible to vote, 80% were appointed by Pope Francis.
Mass and funeral for Pope Francis
To honor the legacy of Pope Francis, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis will host a Mass for Pope Francis on Thursday at noon at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral at 1347 North Meridian Street.
The church will be able to sit 800 people inside the cathedral and Archbishop Thompson will be leading mass.
Francis' funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. in Vatican City on Saturday at St. Peter's Basilica or 4 p.m. Eastern time.