B.C. Catholics react to death of Pope Francis: 'A beacon of hope'
The archdiocese of Vancouver says a memorial mass will be held soon to honour the legacy of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday after a lengthy battle with lung disease.
'It is with great sorrow that I join the faithful of the archdiocese of Vancouver, and Catholics around the world, in mourning the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis,' said J. Michael Miller, the apostolic administrator for the archdiocese that serves nearly 400,000 baptized Lower Mainland Catholics.
The pope was a socially conscious leader who rankled some conservatives with his calls for a worldwide response to climate change and criticisms of unchecked capitalism.
'Pope Francis was a tireless shepherd of the church, a beacon of hope, and a champion of the gospel,' said Miller in a statement released Monday. 'His deep love for the poor, unwavering commitment to peace, and bold witness to Christ's message of love and reconciliation have inspired millions of people everywhere.'
Miller said it was Francis's outreach to the world's Christian conscience that will be remembered here.
'The most significant legacy left to the archdiocese of Vancouver by Pope Francis is undoubtedly his heart for evangelization,' he said. Miller said Francis's call for missionaries in 2019 led to the archdiocese launching Proclaim, 'a movement that awakens disciples to proclaim Jesus.
'The Pope's challenge to embrace missionary discipleship continues to guide our evangelization efforts today.'
Miller said a date for a memorial mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver will be announced soon.
Miller is acting as the pope's representative while the archdiocese awaits the installation of recently appointed Archbishop Richard W. Smith. Smith assumes his duties on May 23.
READ MORE: The Cardinals said to have a chance at becoming the next Pope
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'Pope Francis was a voice of moral clarity, spiritual courage, and boundless compassion. He was in many respects the world's conscience — never hesitating to challenge the powerful on behalf of the vulnerable.'
— Prime Minister Mark Carney, at a campaign stop in Charlottetown
'There have been countless millions of Catholics and non-Catholics that have been inspired by his leadership in faith and other domains, and our prayers are with all Catholics as they lay to rest the head of the Catholic Church.'
— Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, at a campaign stop in east Toronto
'Pope Francis showed the world that faith can be a force for justice. He spoke plainly about poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis. I attended his visit in 2022 where he offered an apology for the Catholic church's role in residential schools. For many survivors, this apology was not enough. For others, it was a step towards recognition of the harm and trauma they experienced. His passing is a loss and his example will not be forgotten.'
— NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, on social media.
'Our Catholic family worldwide is in mourning following the death of our spiritual father, Pope Francis. Since 2013, our shepherd has guided the flock lovingly and served as a global ambassador of peace, hope and love. The Holy Father's humility, compassion and care for others, most especially the poor and marginalized, has served as a powerful witness and a reminder of our daily call to reflect the face of Jesus to all those whom we encounter.'
— Cardinal Frank Leo, Archbishop of Toronto, in a written statement
'The differences that we have between each other are not an obstacle. They are a blessing. And to see the value of the other is also to learn to view the difference as a blessing for our own lives. So that's why Pope Francis's message of the value of encounter, the value of togetherness, so that we can enrich our life and enrich our peace, is so important today. Let us be together in solidarity and sadness and in the building of peace and building a civilization of encounter.'
— Rev. Christian Lepine, Archbishop of Montreal, in a video statement
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