Pope Francis’ death reverberated around California on Monday, killing even stronger messages of tolerance and advocacy for immigration, as well as the less fortunate and less fortunate resonance.
Francis, the first Pope in Latin America, was a particularly beloved figure in the Los Angeles area and welcomed his statements in favor of the environment, the tolerance of LGBTQ Catholics, and the progress of women in the church.
Cynthia Cook and her mother, Julieta Kamacha, offered quiet prayers at the Catholic Church of Angels on Monday morning when the cathedral bells rang overhead.
“I was just shocked because I thought he was recovering,” Cook said.
The two women visited Los Angeles and decided to pay their respects at the Downtown Chapel in Los Angeles on their way back to Santa Maria.
Cook said unity was important during these difficult times and Francis embodied his love for everyone.
“As the head of the Catholic Church, he made it clear that immigrants were God’s children,” Cook said.
Isabel Torres was cleaning up the chapel of the angels’ Queen after the end of the packed morning Mass. On Monday, she prayed to God and asked for his guidance before explaining the feelings of overcoming her after learning of Francis’ death.
“I was very sad,” Torres said in Spanish. “But at the same time, I thanked God for what God gave us and for us.”
Torres saw Francis as a reflection of God and was an example of how the Catholic community should live life primarily through humility.
“We have always tried to live by the teachings he gave us,” Torres said. “Even sinners have always tried to be humbled, with us being our biggest mistake,” the native Mexican emphasized the importance of Francis to the conversation surrounding immigration, saying she hopes the president will learn from the Pope’s legacy.
“I hope that with the help of Almighty God, the death of the Pope touches the hearts of these presidents,” Torres said. “And they see us all the same, and they understand that we have a right to this world, regardless of race or color.”
After holding a mass at the Angels’ Queen Chapel on Monday morning, Pastor Benedictus Obon said he wanted the new Pope to continue the legacy left behind by Francis.
“He was a man of peace,” Obon said. “He loved mankind. He accepted all people and didn’t care who you were. We are all God’s creatures.”
Obon believed that Francis helped change the negative narrative surrounding the Catholic Church before he took over as Pope. “His presence in the church has brought a lot of good things,” Obon said. “He also brought many people back to the church. For the community, this is a huge loss.”
For Aubon, it is important that the next Pope performs a criticism of the current US administration of immigrants who spoke up until the last day of his life when Francis met Vice President J.D. Vance.
“Look at them as humans first and see them as part of others’ self,” he said.
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