Holy Mass for Pope Francis, servant of the servants of God
By Kristine Rilling05/03/2025
The Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis was held on Friday, May 2, at St. Peter Cathedral in Erie. The Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico, bishop of Erie, was the principal celebrant of the Mass. Several priests and lay faithful gathered from across the Diocese of Erie for the Mass--united in mourning, reverence and gratitude.
Music from the St. Peter Cathedral Choir filled the church, beginning with the Hymn for the Soul of a Pope. Ms. Megan Kibbler served as cantor, with Mr. Corey Spacht as organist and Mr. Jim Stevenson as lector. Deacon Richard Brogdon proclaimed the Gospel, reading from Matthew 16:13-19.
Bishop Lawrence Persico then offered the homily, reflecting on the man so many had loved and admired.
Pope Francis, elected on March 13, 2013, led the Catholic Church with humility and compassion for 12 years until his death on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. Remembering the moment of his election, Bishop Persico recalled how Pope Francis humbly introduced himself to the world from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, noting that the cardinals had gone "to the ends of the earth" to find a pope—choosing a shepherd from Latin America, from the periphery.
Bishop Persico spoke about this initial comment—that he was from the periphery—and said it would guide the pope throughout his papacy.
“He wanted the church to go to the peripheries of the world to bring back all of those who wandered away,” said Bishop Persico, “To bring back the poor and those who felt rejected by the church. This is what Pope Francis did through the 12 years of his papacy. We not only began to understand that statement but saw him model a church that was pastoral in style, reminding the church of God’s mercy and forgiveness.”
He continued, saying, “And also of hope and charity. And it was those things that Pope Francis lived out in his own life.”
Some in the congregation nodded gently. Pope Francis did not fit the mold—an Argentinian Jesuit elected after years of service in the barrios of Buenos Aires.
Bishop Persico also spoke to Pope Francis’ devotion to Mary, visiting St. Mary Major in Rome to pray to Mary. Pope Francis always stopped there before a journey. He returned there from that journey to pray—another example of how he differed from his predecessors, showing us the importance of that relationship with Mary.
Bishop Persico reminded us that we are in the Year of Jubilee. Pope Francis gave us the Holy Year, a year of hope. He was always the man of peace, speaking to the warring nations and urging them to stop fighting. He lived his life as a person who lived the way he preached.
Bishop Persico concluded, saying, “So today we bid him farewell and pray for his repose. As we do so, we pray that he may rest in peace and he and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, may rest in peace.”
As we commend Pope Francis to God's mercy, we now turn our hearts to the next chapter in the church's life. Let us pray for the College of Cardinals that they may be guided by the Holy Spirit in the upcoming conclave to choose a shepherd after God’s own heart—one who will lead us in truth, unity and love.
Click here to view photos of the Mass.
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