County parish reflects on death of Pope Francis
As Catholics worldwide react to the death of Pope Francis on Monday, April 21, a Butler County parish planned activities for its congregation to grieve and learn what’s next for the papacy.
Divine Grace Parish plans to hold a special mass in remembrance of the pope scheduled for Wednesday evening, a talk with churchgoers on Thursday evening and a conversation with students at St. Gregory Catholic School on Friday.
The parish comprises three churches: St. Ferdinand Catholic Church in Cranberry Township, St. Gregory Catholic Church in Zelienople and Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Ellwood City.
The Rev. James Wehner, a pastor for the parish, said Francis served the role of spiritual father of Catholics worldwide, and his loss invokes the experience of being orphaned.
“(Francis) was our 266th pope. There’s some peace in knowing that we will have another pope in the future,” Wehner said.
Divine Grace Parish falls under the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. The diocese announced its own mass in Francis’ memory scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday. Bishop David Zubik, who leads the diocese, issued a statement.
“On the occasions I had the privilege of being in the presence of the Holy Father during visits to the Vatican, what struck me most was not just the dignity of his office, but the warmth of his heart,” Zubik said. “His attention to each person, his gentle spirit, and his genuine kindness left a lasting impression on me and so many others. He was a shepherd who smelled like his sheep — and the world is better for it.”
Divine Grace Parish also will hold its own masses at all three churches at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23. Wehner said the masses will feature prayers specifically reserved for the death of a pope, and bringing people together to pray for Francis.
“We’ve just talked about the Resurrection yesterday, and now, our Holy Father is experiencing the joy of resurrection himself,” Wehner said.
On Thursday, Wehner said there will be a talk for those interested in learning more about the death of a current pope and election of the next pope. He said he believes it’s important to give members of his congregation guidance during the transitory period.
“The election is not a political process, it’s a spiritual one,” Wehner said.
Finally, on Friday, Wehner said he will be going to the St. Gregory Catholic School in Zelienople to explain the process to students in an age-appropriate way. He said he will speak to more than 200 attendees of the school about the death and election process.
“For many of them, Pope Francis was their first pope. They don’t know that process yet,” Wehner said. “Many Catholics, depending on their age, have been through this before.”
Outside of the events, the parish will also be hanging a black bunting at the doorway of its churches.
The process of electing a new pope begins after the previous pope’s funeral, giving the cardinals time to travel to Rome. During this period, the cardinals will discuss the state of the church and what type of pope should be elected next.
In the absence of a pope, a cardinal taking the role of camerlengo oversees papal duties until a new pope is chosen. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the current camerlengo, announced the death of Francis on Monday.
Then, the conclave begins. The 135 cardinals under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote gather in the Sistine Chapel and are placed under vows of secrecy while voting is ongoing. The cardinals vote four times a day, two times in the morning and two in the afternoon, until someone receives a two-thirds majority. Voting can last days, months or even years.
When a two-thirds majority is reached, a white plume of smoke is emitted from the Sistine Chapel chimney, and the senior cardinal announces “Habemus papam (We have a pope)” and the new pope’s chosen name from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
