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Boston Globe
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
These Mass. people say they're lucky to have seen Pope Francis
Advertisement Then, Pope Francis appeared from behind a red curtain on a balcony. Everyone erupted in cheers and some shouted 'Papa Francisco,' Tuthill said. When the Pope said 'Happy Easter' in a 'weak and frail voice,' Tuthill said, she felt like she was watching a part of history. 'I knew he wasn't going to be alive much longer, which is why we went to Rome this year,' Tuthill said. Tuthill, 54, said she felt inspired seeing how, even though the Pope wasn't feeling well on Sunday, he greeted thousands and rode around Saint Peter's Square in his Popemobile . 'What I'm most struck with is he was serving others until the moment he died,' said Tuthill, who attended the Sunday morning Mass less than 24 hours before the Pope died around 7:30 a.m. on Monday. Advertisement Brendan Ward (from left), Madeline Ward, Scarlett Ward and Kelley Tuthill at Saint Peter's Square on Sunday, April 20. (Kelley Tuthill) Kelley Tuthill The Tuthill's were vacationing in Europe to visit their daughter, a college student who is studying abroad in Barcelona. When the leader of Catholic Charities Boston, which focuses on reducing poverty, realized her trip coincided with Easter, she decided they had to make a stop in Rome. 'He's been such a strong voice for those we serve, and there's not a lot of really strong voices right now with that message of kindness, especially for refugees and migrants,' Tuthill said. While Tuthill's well-timed visit allowed her to see some of Pope Francis' last public moments before he died, Danielle and Vin Bartucca got to meet the Pope in 2022, when he blessed their marriage on their honeymoon in Italy. A travel agent told them they could register for Pope Francis' 'Sposi Novelli,' a Vatican ceremony for newlyweds that happens on a regular basis. The couple jumped at the opportunity to participate in the ritual, in which they provided their wedding certificate, dressed in wedding attire and sat for a papal audience alongside dozens of other other newlyweds before meeting Pope Francis, Danielle Bartucca said. When the Bartucca's got to the front of the line, they said Pope Francis shook their hands and blessed their rosary beads. 'We said we're never going to wash our hands after touching the Pope,' Danielle said, with a laugh. After getting their marriage blessed by Pope Francis, Danielle and Vin Bartucca had a baby girl who shares her birthday, December 17, with the late Pope. (Danielle Bartucca) Danielle Bartucca Danielle thanked Pope Francis, in English, for his blessing, and Vin, speaking Italian, said 'it's an honor to meet you.' They said Pope Francis' humility and kindness were apparent during their brief interaction, and that the papal leader seemed to beam with brightness. 'You see him and it's almost like you're seeing a light, you're in such awe of him,' Danielle, 32, said. Advertisement Pope Francis' 'He's made the Catholic church more accepting of people as a whole, and that's how we feel as a family,' she said, explaining she'll raise her young daughter Eva with Pope Francis' values in mind. The four-month-old shares her birthday, December 17, with the late Pope, Vin said, and they named her Eva after Eve, the first woman God created, according to the Bible. A boys' treble choir from Saint Paul's Choir School performed at the Vatican and got to ride with Pope Francis in the Popemobile in April 2023. (Saint Paul's Choir School) Saint Paul's Choir School Vin, 37, also said he and his family will always be inspired by Pope Francis' message of acceptance for all. 'You don't have to follow every single rule of the church, as long as you're kind to everybody, you're basically following in God's footsteps,' Vin said. Vin, who grew up in Norwood, and Danielle, who was raised in Yarmouth Port, married in Boston's Cathedral of the Holy Cross after meeting at Bar Boulud in Back Bay, they said. They've been living in Jacksonville, Fla., for Danielle's medical school training, and they'll return to New England in June, when Danielle starts a medical residency at Brown University in Providence, R.I. A boys' treble choir from Saint Paul's Choir School performed at the Vatican and got to ride with Pope Francis in the Popemobile in April 2023. (Saint Paul's Choir School) Saint Paul's Choir School More recently, Baltazar Etcheverry was among a group of students from Saint Paul's Choir School who traveled to Rome in April 2023, and got to spend a day with Pope Francis. The late Pope greeted every student individually and held Baltazar's face in his hand. The trip was organized by Juan Cruz Villalon, an Argentina priest who was friends with both Pope Francis and the Etcheverry family. Advertisement Baltazar, who goes by 'Balty,' said meeting Pope Francis strengthened his Christian faith, and inspired him to be kind to people of all faiths and beliefs. Balty's parents, Martin and Asuncion, are from Argentina, and their son personally brought the country's popular alfajores cookies as a gift for Pope Francis. When Balty, 12, learned Monday Pope Francis had died, he was shocked. 'It hit me that we just lost a leader, a big light, and it impacted a lot of people,' Balty said. Kelley Tuthill got to see Pope Francis give Easter mass in Saint Peter's Square the day before he died. (Kelley Tuthill) Kelley Tuthill During their April 2023 visit, Balty and other treble choir singers got to ride in the Popemobile through Saint Peter's Square, and everyone, including many non-Christians who attend the music school, were moved by Pope Francis' interpersonal kindness, Balty said. While riding, Pope Francis stopped to kiss every baby in Saint Peter's Square and gave everyone personalized attention, Balty said. 'It will continue to influence me as long as I live, and it's a reminder to be like him, to be humble and treat others how they want to be treated,' Balty said. Messages of compassion also shone down from the Pope during Mass the day before he died, said Tuthill, who said Pope Francis preached against discrimination during the Easter Mass. 'His last moments were to tell us we need to have a little less hate in the world, begging us all to be better and be in a better world by being more kind, more peaceful,' Tuthill said. Pope Francis' funeral Mass will take place on Saturday morning in St. Peter's Square. Claire Thornton can be reached at
Axios
21-04-2025
- General
- Axios
Boston mourns death of Pope Francis
Boston leaders are mourning the loss of Pope Francis, the first Pope of the Americas. The big picture: Pope Francis made waves speaking out in defense of immigrants, communities devastated by climate change and victims of human rights abuses. His approach excited Catholics seeking modernization and riled traditionalists. Catch up quick: The Pope died Monday morning. He was 88. He was hospitalized earlier this year with bronchitis symptoms and was treated for double pneumonia. The Archbishop of Boston, Richard G. Henning, said Pope Francis "challenged us to turn away from selfish impulses and toward communion with others and respect for God's creation." Henning said in a statement that the late Pope's example remains a "guiding light to the Universal Church." Gov. Maura Healey, who is Catholic, remembered Francis for his efforts to make the Catholic Church inclusive. "He led by reminding us of the dignity and worth of every person," Healey said in a statement. Flashback: Jorge Mario Bergolio was born in Argentina Dec. 17, 1936, the son of Italian immigrants. Francis studied the humanities, philosophy and theology during his religious training, continuing his studies after becoming ordained in 1969, per the Vatican's website. When he was named Cardinal in 2001, Francis asked Catholics not to travel to Rome to celebrate him, but instead to donate their would-be travel expenses to poor people. He continued to preach for anti-poverty efforts throughout his time in Argentina and after being named Pope on March 13, 2013. Catholic Charities Boston described the Pope in a statement as someone who prioritized the same people the Boston nonprofit serves daily: "vulnerable children and the elderly, families struggling to overcome poverty, refugees and immigrants seeking safer, more stable futures." "He was unapologetically committed to treating those living on the margins of society with kindness and respect and was an outstanding model of our vision of a more just, compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people," the organization said.
Boston Globe
21-04-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
New England leaders mourn Pope Francis: ‘A guiding light of hope'
'I am personally grateful that he called me to the Episcopacy and entrusted me with the pastoral care of the Church of Boston. His example remains a guiding light to the Universal Church. Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, may he rest in peace.' Bishop James Ruggieri of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine, said that Pope Francis' legacy will be 'one of mercy and compassion, but also of hope.' Advertisement 'In this Jubilee Year, may we honor Pope Francis by carrying on his mission and living as pilgrims of hope,' Ruggieri said in a Advertisement 'Throughout his life, Pope Francis prioritized the care of the people Catholic Charities Boston is proud to serve every day – vulnerable children and the elderly, families struggling to overcome poverty, refugees and immigrants seeking safer, more stable futures,' the organization said in a statement Monday morning. 'He was unapologetically committed to treating those living on the margins of society with kindness and respect and was an outstanding model of our vision of a more just, compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people.' In the statement, the organization noted how Pope Francis had recently urged Catholics to 'not give into narratives that discriminate and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters.' 'His words remind us that in these challenging times, our faith calls us to build bridges, recognize our shared humanity, and to stand up for our neighbors in need,' Catholic Charities Boston said in the statement. 'We pray for Pope Francis and will honor his legacy of love through service by continuing to empower the most vulnerable among us.' This is a developing story and will be updated. Emily Sweeney can be reached at
Boston Globe
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Among Boston nonprofits, federal funding unknowns causes trepidation
Collection envelopes were placed in every church in the Archdiocese of Boston to try to shore up funding for the charity's services, which range from food pantries to childcare to shelter to workforce development. Related : Last month, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration's attempt to temporarily freeze federal grants and loans; advocates worried it could throw trillions of dollars into limbo and cause widespread chaos in schools, health care centers, child care centers and universities, and on public works and transit operations. Every human, Chambers told the parishioners, is worthy of human dignity. Advertisement 'Any amount makes a difference,' she said. Her plea came hours after Trump addressed Congress in a speech where he spoke of a 'common sense revolution' that would provide 'immediate relief to working families.' He seemed, at times, to revel in slashing funding for programs he deemed absurd while heaping praise on Elon Musk and his newly created Department of Government Efficiency for making those cuts. Much of the rhetoric was anti-immigrant. For instance, he railed against 'illegal alien hotels in New York City.' 'America is back,' he said to start his speech. The mood was decidedly different at St. Cecilia's. After the Mass, Chambers said her organization's immigration and refugee resettlement services are of the most immediate concern, although she admitted, 'it seems like each one of our departments' is going to be hit in some way or another.' She said her organization were poised to help refugees who were ready to come to the US and had purchased plane tickets but did not make the trip because 'everything stopped.' The organization, which serves 100,000 people in the Boston archdiocese annually, has not had to lay off anyone, yet, but Chambers, her forehead smudged with a cross of ash to mark the start of Lent, said, 'We're just waiting and playing it day-by-day.' Advertisement Beth Chambers, Vice President of Basic Needs at Catholic Charities Boston, distributes ashes to a parishioner during an Ash Wednesday mass at St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Catholic Charities is hardly alone. Anxiety has recently riddled local nonprofits who rely on federal funding, as many wonder what the future will hold for their services to the vulnerable and marginalized, given the direction federal Republican leadership is heading. 'Yes, basic services could be on the chopping block,' Lyndia Downie, president and executive director of Pine Street Inn, the largest homeless services provider in New England, said last week. 'There's a lot of anxiety about what happens next. There are a lot of what-ifs, but I don't think people know yet.' Downie said about 20 percent of her organization's housing program funding comes from the federal government. It's her understanding that projects for next year involving federal money will be funded, but she also acknowledges that there are multiple unknowns. Greater Boston Legal Services, which provides legal representation to the poor and the working class, called a proposed funding freeze and possible cuts disheartening. 'This funding isn't government waste, it represents real and needed services to help people put food on the table, receive healthcare, and remain in their homes,' said Linda B. Lank, a spokesperson for the group in a statement in recent days. 'GBLS, like many human services organizations, is waiting to see what will happen not only to federal funding, but how this will impact the state and other resources that enable us to do our work.' Trump wants the Republicans who control Congress to approve a massive budget bill that would extend tax breaks, which he secured during his first term but are expiring later this year, while also cutting spending across federal programs and services. Advertisement Regarding the GOP budget package, next steps are long and cumbersome before anything can become law — weeks of committee hearings to draft the details and send the House version to the Senate, where Republicans passed their own scaled-back version. In the meantime, there is trepidation. Related : Count Boston resident Michael Kane, chair of the Leaders and Organizers for Tenant Empowerment (LOFTE) Network, a national organization of tenants in privately-owned, federally subsidized apartments, among those who are troubled by recent federal developments. Kane fears that Trump's administration will aim to slash housing services and hike rents for the underserved, as it tried pre-Biden. During Trump's first term, Russell Vought, the director of the US Office of Management and Budget, proposed to phase out all HUD rental subsidies for 9 million Section 8 and public housing tenants over a decade. His proposal looked to start with a 22 percent rent hike to millions of low-income tenants in the first year, but the plan never came to fruition. He specifically mentioned Musk, Trump's billionaire adviser, who is tearing through federal agencies with his Department of Government Efficiency firing thousands of workers nationwide. 'Are Musk's proposals to slash 48 percent of [US Department of Housing and Urban Development] staff in the next few months, a preview of what the administration will propose when the President files his 2026 budget in the next few days?' asked Kane days before Trump's Tuesday night speech. 'Our elderly tenant members, in particular, are worried that OMB could again propose to raise their rents by 22 percent, terminate 250,000 tenants from Section 8, and make deep cuts for disaster recovery, public housing, and housing grants to cities, like they tried to do in 2019.' Advertisement Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Danny McDonald can be reached at
