Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne led local Catholics gathered at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford in praying for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis just hours after the Holy Father’s death on April 21, 2025, the Monday after Easter. Pope Francis was 88.
The archbishop, more than a dozen priests and deacons, and Governor Ned Lamont took the opportunity to assemble at the Cathedral’s noontime Mass along with area Catholics and people of other religious faiths to reflect on, and pray for, the beloved pontiff.
“His was a prophetic voice, constantly seeking to move us out of the comfortable middle of life and faith to the margins of society,” Archbishop Coyne told all those in attendance. “While doing so, he continued to maintain the Church’s deposit of faith and doctrine. His off-the-cuff remarks and interviews were honest, sometimes outrageous and always interesting.
“Over the past few years, he suffered from many ailments and illnesses, but he always kept plugging along as our Holy Father with his usual grace and humor,” the archbishop observed.
Bringing context to the solemn day, Archbishop Coyne noted that Catholics have been blessed in recent decades in the Catholic Church by three popes: St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.
According to Archbishop Coyne, Pope John Paul II wrote “exhortations and letters of all kinds on all subjects,” while Pope Benedict “set his heart and his papacy on combatting the scourge of relativism in the Western Church.” Then came Pope Francis, with his emphasis on God’s mercy and on reaching out to those on the peripheries of society.
Despite their differing styles and contributions, all three popes faithfully served the Church, the archbishop said, and served in a unifying role by occupying the chair of St. Peter.
“Regardless of the humanity of the man who sits in that chair, we honor and respect him as the successor of St. Peter,” Archbishop Coyne said, “knowing that our faith is grounded on the rock of St. Peter and guided by Jesus’ own prayer that all may be one.”
Governor Ned Lamont also addressed those in attendance at the Cathedral.
“We all love Pope Francis because we knew that he loved us unconditionally and he reminded us every day, through the example of his life, that we’re all God’s children,” Governor Lamont said.
“And I think today we miss Pope Francis more than ever because we need him more than ever,” the governor added. “I hope we always live in his example. We have so much more in common together than anything that could divide us.”
Story by Shelley Wolf
Catholic Transcript
With deep sorrow, the Diocese of Norwich joins the universal Church in mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on the morning of April 21, 2025.
Statement of the Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne
I join with Bishop-elect Richard Reidy and the entire community of the Diocese of Norwich in offering prayers for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace.
As Archbishop of Hartford and Apostolic Administrator of Norwich, I will celebrate a Memorial Mass for Pope Francis at 12:10 PM today at the metropolitan Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford.
Bishop-elect Reidy will concelebrate a Memorial Mass with Bishop Robert McManus today at 12:10 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Worcester MA.
"Eternal rest grant on to him, O Lord ...."
Please continue to pray for the repose of Pope Francis and for the Church he so faithfully served.
Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne met Pope Francis on June 29, 2024, when he received the pallium and some encouraging words from the pope at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Photo submitted
