Latest news with #CatholicDioceseofPittsburgh
CBS News
21-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh holding special Mass in remembrance of Pope Francis
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will hold a special Mass on Monday, April 21, in remembrance of Pope Francis following his death early on this Easter Monday. Bishop David Zubik will preside over the Mass at 7 p.m. at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland. The Vatican announced Pope Francis, 88, died around 7:30 a.m. local time, one day after he briefly appeared in St. Peter's Square to bless worshippers on Easter Sunday. Bishop Zubik is encouraging all pastors across the Diocese of Pittsburgh to celebrate Masses for the late pope, and to include special intentions during the Prayer of the Faithful throughout the coming days. "We are experiencing this loss as a family," said Bishop Zubik. "And as a family would, we need to come together, to be together, and to pray together." Bishop Zubik met with and had personal interactions with Pope Francis over the years. He said he last saw the pope in person on Thanksgiving Day of 2019 during a bishops conference in Rome. "On the occasions I had the privilege of being in the presence of the Holy Father during visits to the Vatican, what struck me most was not just the dignity of his office, but the warmth of his heart," Bishop Zubik said in a statement. "His attention to each person, his gentle spirit, and his genuine kindness left a lasting impression on me and so many others. He was a shepherd who smelled like his sheep-and the world is better for it." KDKA Morning Anchors David Highfield and Erica Mokay spoke with Bishop Zubik early Monday morning. "I think today, most important of all, we need to be able to pray for him," Bishop Zubik said. "It's our tradition as Catholics to be able to pray for those who have passed, and we do so with a great deal of gratitude in our hearts for all that he did as such a beautiful pastor of the [Catholic] Church throughout the world." Pittsburgh-area leaders have offered tributes as well. Gov. Josh Shapiro said, "He leaves a legacy of being a fighter for the defenseless — a teaching we should all learn from." Tributes praising Pope Francis' leadership and devotion quickly began to pour in from around the world. Pope Francis had experienced a number of health issues in recent years. He spent five weeks in the hospital in February and March 2025 with bronchitis that developed into pneumonia in both lungs. He marked the 12th anniversary of his papacy from his hospital room.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik reacts to death of Pope Francis
Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik has released a statement on the death of Pope Francis. Francis died Monday at 88, the Vatican announced, a day after blessing thousands of people in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to a hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy. Zubik released a statement mourning Pope Francis' death: 'With deep sorrow, respect, and love, I join the faithful of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and people around the world, in mourning the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. 'Pope Francis led the Church with extraordinary humility, compassion, and courage. He reminded us that mercy is at the heart of the Gospel, and he consistently called us to encounter one another with tenderness and care—especially the poor, the suffering, and the forgotten. His voice echoed far beyond the walls of the Church, inviting people of all backgrounds to walk together in peace, justice, and love. 'On the occasions I had the privilege of being in the presence of the Holy Father during visits to the Vatican, what struck me most was not just the dignity of his office, but the warmth of his heart. His attention to each person, his gentle spirit, and his genuine kindness left a lasting impression on me and so many others. He was a shepherd who smelled like his sheep—and the world is better for it. 'I ask all in our diocese to join me in praying for the eternal repose of his soul, and in giving thanks for his life and witness. May Pope Francis now rest in the peace of the Risen Christ whom he so faithfully served. And may the Holy Spirit guide the Church in this time of transition.' Zubik told Channel 11 that special masses will be held for Francis. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
CBS News
16-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Former congregation in Bloomfield fighting to save historic church grounds
Pittsburgh has long had a deep history of celebrating Holy Week in its churches, but this week hits particularly hard for one former Catholic church in Bloomfield . Immaculate Conception Church and school closed in May 2022. That closing came after a back-and-forth with the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Pope and the Vatican. The church lost all fights, but now there is a new one. Church officials are fighting for their building, which they consider a historical staple of the Bloomfield community and its Italian Heritage. KDKA spoke to Rita Turnpin-Porterfield, one of many community members fighting to save the church. "This is Bloomfield," Porterfield said. "This is that location. This is the pinpoint. It centers us as a community, as a meeting space, and it brings all corners of the neighborhood together." The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has listed the church complex for $3.5 million. Porterfield and other members of the community worry the church will be torn down and replaced with something like, for example, apartments. "It's meant so much for decades," Porterfield said. "I think there's a lot of anger, mostly because there hasn't been honesty or forthrightness or open communication." Joe Posteraro is the owner of Angelo's Pizzeria. He and his family attended that church, as did many members of the business community there. "There's a lot of history with those of us that few up here. We went to school here. We don't want to see it ripped down. I mean I know the church is not gonna be there anymore, but something like a community center, which would be awesome." Porterfield said an Italian day care and preschool offered $3 million of the $3.5 million to the diocese. She says the day care would keep the site intact. Porterfield said the diocese rejected the offer. KDKA reached out to the diocese on Wednesday but did not hear back. "It does feel particularly spiteful that the Italian church could be lost when we know there are Italian community-focused buyers involved," Porterfield said.
