More than 1,600 attend archdiocesan Mass for Pope Francis
The Archdiocese of Newark celebrated a Mass to remember and pray for Pope Francis on April 22, one day after his death, at Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. “He served for 12 years as leader of the Catholic Church, as a global witness for those most in need, and as a voice of warning for the future of our planet,” Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, told those gathered as the Mass began.
After learning of the Pope’s death on Monday, Cardinal Tobin invited the faithful of the Archdiocese of Newark to attend the Tuesday service. It was, by necessity, a short notice, but people responded. More than 1,600 worshippers filled the Cathedral Basilica. Thousands more watched via livestream.
“What a marvelous response of this Archdiocese in less than 24 hours,” the cardinal told those gathered, “to assemble a group like this to pray for Pope Francis and to learn from him.”
Remembering Pope Francis
In his homily, Cardinal Tobin reminded everyone of Pope Francis’ first request of the Church upon his election to the papacy in 2013:
“You recall that when it came time for him to bless the people, he asked that they bless him, and he said, ‘Please, pray for me.’ He would repeat that throughout his 12 years of Petrine ministry. At times, he even seemed to be joking. When people would insist on doing a selfie with him, he would say afterwards, ‘Now, you have to pray for me!’ He depended on the prayers of the Church in a very visceral way during his final illness.”
Cardinal Tobin said that it was no coincidence the day’s Gospel recounted the story of Mary Magdalene and her early morning encounter with Jesus at the tomb when she was called by name. It was one of the Holy Father’s favorite passages.
“Pope Francis liked to say that each person is a love story that God writes on this Earth,” Cardinal Tobin recalled. “Each one of us is God’s love story.
“Over the two decades that I knew him,” Cardinal Tobin added, “I (learned) that he followed the same strategy as Mary of Magdala, rising early each morning to spend a couple of hours in silence before he celebrated the Eucharist at six.”
Man of mercy
The cardinal also recalled how much Pope Francis identified with the story of the tax collector Matthew, “who looked up from the coins of his constricted life because he heard someone call his name. That scene influenced Francis so much that he took for his episcopal motto miserando atque eligendo.”
The phrase comes from a commentary of Saint Bede on the Gospel passage where Jesus calls Matthew, who became an apostle, and translates as “he took mercy on him and chose him.”
God taught Francis “that the first divine name is Mercy,” Cardinal Tobin said. “The Church and people of goodwill will benefit from what Francis harvested in a lifetime of listening in the garden of silence and trust.”
He also recalled how Pope Francis would call him “Tobín or el gigante” (“He may have called me other things, too,” the cardinal joked) and how when he was helping with a project in 2016, the Pope had looked at him and said, “Tobín, I don’t know why I’m here.”
The cardinal said he was taken aback, but then the Pope added with a smile, “But, you know, because this wasn’t my plan, I trust it’s God’s will for me. And I believe because it’s God’s will for me, I will have what I need to carry it out and the suffering that accompanies it.”
A “great act of love”
Those who assembled for the Mass had their own memories of Pope Francis. Some said they were moved by his concern for the poor, while others noted the understanding that Francis showed for those who felt alienated from Christianity.
“At first, I honestly didn’t understand why Pope Francis was doing certain things,” one attendee told Jersey Catholic, “but then I realized that you are never going to bring people who are far away from the Church back by judging them. You have to find a way to help them understand that God loves them.”
Another attendee, Juan, said that the papacy of Francis had been “a grace for my family and me, knowing that we have support in the faith.” He was among the many who gathered outside the cathedral after Mass to sing and celebrate the life of the Holy Father, accompanied by a group of musicians from the Neocatechumenal Way movement.
Before the final procession, Cardinal Tobin again thanked the assembly for their “great act of love” in gathering to pray Pope Francis and for “the Church that he served with such dedication and care. God bless you for this great deed you did tonight.”
You will find more images from the Mass for the Repose of the Soul of Pope Francis here. And below you will find a video of the gathering outside the Cathedral after Mass.
Featured image: A portrait of Pope Francis in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart on April 22, 2025 for an archdiocesan Mass in his memory. (Photos by Shania Mosquera and John Touhey, Archdiocese of Newark)
