After an appearance on Easter Sunday and a recovery image, Pope Francis He died on Monday at the age of 88.
Undoubtedly, his legacy has affected billions worldwide, included in Lethbridge and all south of Alberta.
« It was really crazy to see, especially the weekend of Easter. It was really devastating, just because it has been for so long. This is all that he knew to grow, » Danica Gordon said in Lethbridge on Monday afternoon.
She says that Francis, born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, will be a hard pontiff to follow.
« Honestly, I don’t think we find anyone like him again. »
To some, it represented more than religion. It was a lighthouse of hope.
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« He was more open, more modern, more (understanding of young people), understanding of (community). I think he was closer to (the people), » said Sara Figueroa, who comes from Mexico.
She says she finally had a South -American Pope was huge for those in Latin America.
« I was happy that the first time was for Argentina, » said Figueroa.
This belief was shared by Father Santiago Torres, the shepherd associated with the Catholic parish of All Sants in Lethbridge.
« I was born in Columbia and, therefore, having a pope who was from South America was huge. It definitely feels much more with him. »
This sense of proximity with Francis was elevated for Torres, as all his priesthood was served under the pontificate of the Pope, to this day.
« As a pope who reigned for 12 years, so for many people in the Church, especially those younger ones, it is the only pope they have known. It certainly marks you in a different way, » said Torres.
He says that those who attend their parish are trying to make sense of the monumental glory of Easter combined with the penalty of Francis’s death.
« The messages and the people I have talked to in the community have already asked them especially about it: how this great joy and a deep exultation can be reconciled, which takes place in Easter due to the resurrection of Christ, but at the same time, the deep sadness involved in losing our pope. »
But he says that all Catholics are together, regardless of where they live or what cultural backgrounds they have.
« In a place like Lethbridge, retired from Rome, but obviously very closely connected by our faith with our church and what happens there. »
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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