22-04-2025
Central Texas Community Remembers Pope Francis
CENTRAL TEXAS (FOX 44) — The death of Pope Francis has sent waves of sorrow around the globe, touching the hearts of many – including those in Central Texas who were fortunate enough to experience his compassion and presence firsthand.
At Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School in Waco, junior Mackennon Sammon reflected on his recent pilgrimage to Rome in January, where he and his classmates met the late Pope Francis.
'He was going down the aisle at the very end. He was going to pass us,' Sammon recalled. 'But then he saw our sign that we had for him, and he came back, told his men, like, bring him back, and that was just super cool — to realize that he sees us, even if we don't realize it. Just to know that he sees us and he cares for us. That was super special for me.' Sammon says the moment not only deepened his Catholic faith, but also helped him grow as a person.
For others in Temple, the connection to Pope Francis goes back even further. Nohely Mackowiak and her husband were blessed by the pope in 2018 during their honeymoon in Europe — an unplanned but unforgettable moment.
'All of a sudden, he just started walking down the steps and going through all the front rows, shaking every single person's hand and blessing their marriages,' Mackowiak said. 'It was an incredible thing — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm so glad we did it.'
Now, that blessing feels even more poignant. Mackowiak says she and her husband will forever cherish both the moment and the man behind it, saying he was 'The People's Pope'.
As Catholics in Waco and around the world mourn his passing, memories like these serve as a reminder of Pope Francis' personal impact — even from thousands of miles away.
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