Latest news with #Raica
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Birmingham Bishop Steven Raica celebrates Mass of Thanksgiving for election of new Pope
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — On Friday, the Diocese of Birmingham's Bishop Steven Raica celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving for the election of the new Pope. CBS 42 News attended the service and spoke with those in attendance about their reaction to the news that the conclave had elected an American-born pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost, to head the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first mass in Vatican City on Friday. Here in Birmingham, we asked Bishop Raica to explain the significance of Friday's mass. 'Today is a Mass of gratitude and thanksgiving for the election of a new Pope for us,' he said. 'We are grateful for the providence that the Cardinals have provided through the action of the Holy Spirit.' After 40 days in ICE detention, Alabama student Alireza Doroudi decides to self-deport back to Iran Some of the parishioners we spoke with at St. Paul's Cathedral said they were surprised to learn a Chicago native had been elected as the 267th pope. 'When I heard the name Roberto, I thought, 'Is it Robert Sarah, the Cardinal from Africa?' And then they said Prevost, and I heard a little bit about him, and I said, 'It's an American.' I was amazed, I think none of us were expecting that,' Brian Christine said. 'We were all excited that Pope Leo chose his name,' said Nino Yutiamco, whose 4-year-old son's name is Leo. Steve Harmon, a former faculty member at Samford's Beeson Divinity School, is in Rome reporting for Good Faith Media. 'There were people overcome with emotion, some laughing, some crying, definitely a very emotional moment with a great crowd of people experiencing the same thing,' he explained. Bishop Raica said he plans to travel to Rome within the next two years with other Bishops from the region to deliver a report on church matters to Pope Leo XIV. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Birmingham Catholics reflect on life of Pope Francis
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Members of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham are mourning the death of Pope Francis. He died at 88 years old Monday morning. Bishop Steven Raica spoke at Monday's noon mass at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in downtown Birmingham. He reminded parishioners that Francis touched the world in remarkable ways over the past 12 years as the head of the Catholic Church. Raica shared what Francis' motto was when he was ordained. ''I've been chosen and yet able to show mercy,' and mercy was one of his big themes,' Raica said. During an interview with reporters on Monday following the mass, Raica talked about the Francis' compassion for the poor and concern for the environment. Raica also shared one of the late pontiff's unique sayings: 'Like the church is a field hospital. It is this place where we gather the wounded.' CBS 42 asked him about the mixed emotions many experienced Easter Monday. 'There's a sadness because we lose a pastor,' Raica said. 'We lose somebody that has been a point of reference for us, somebody who pointed out where Christ is showing up.' 'It reminds us during this Easter season, above all, that death doesn't have the final say, and that life, in the end, will be victorious,' Raica continued. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey authorizes flags to be flown at half-staff after Pope Francis dies Those attending noon mass weighed in on the impact Pope Francis had on their lives. 'I'm going to miss his smile,' Brian Christine said. 'I'm going to miss that humble aspect of him who always, I think, he would lay down his life for the poor.' 'He spoke our language,' Ari Obregon said. 'He was so humble. He was something really special. I feel like he was the Pope that we needed for the Catholic Church at this moment.' CBS 42 also stopped by EWTN Global Catholic Network studios Monday morning and observed the broadcast of a Spanish language special about Francis. Colin Donovan, the vice president for theology at EWTN, talked about what the days ahead look like. 'There will be a period of nine days of mourning beginning on the day of the funeral, and then there will be a period such that preparing for the conclave to elect the next pope,' Donovan said. David Bains, a professor of biblical and religious studies at Samford University, talked about Francis' lasting impact. 'Some of his greatest impact will be internationalizing the Vatican Curia, bringing people from all over the world to serve in the Vatican government and to be members of the College of Cardinals,' Bains said. To read the entire statement released Monday by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
