SCRANTON — As head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis demonstrated humility, helped others and moved the church forward, qualities people who remembered the late pope at a special Mass on Tuesday said they hope the church’s next leader has.
A day after the pope’s passing, the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, bishop of the Diocese of Scranton, celebrated the Mass for the Repose of the Soul at St. Peter’s Cathedral before a crowd of just under 230 people.
Among those at the Mass was Jessup resident Larry Spegar, who came wearing a T-shirt with a photo of a smiling Pope Francis and the words “Papa Francesco.” He hopes the pope’s successor continues the work he started, which included elevating women in the church, being accepting of the LGBTQ community and leading an evolving church.
“He had a great way about him,” Spegar, who saw the pope in person a few years ago during a trip to Rome, said outside the cathedral following the Mass. “He wanted to be open so he could reach out to the people.”
He said Pope Francis achieved a lot during his papacy and is confident the church will move forward.
Like Spegar, Amy Burke of Orwigsburg also saw the pope in person during his visit to Philadelphia in 2015. She hopes the church’s next leader continues to make the church stronger and more inclusive, allowing women a more active role in the church.
Jessup resident Larry Spegar poses outside St. Peter’s Cathedral following a special Mass for the late Pope Francis Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Spegar got a T-shirt with the pope on it during a trip to Rome a few years ago, where he was part of a papal audience. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
Flowers are placed near a photograph of Pope Francis following his death during mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Parishioners listen to mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Bishop Joseph Bambera speaks during mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Bishop Joseph Bambera processes at the beginning of mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Parishioners partake in Holy Communion at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
In his homily, Bambera said the pope made the church a welcoming place while demonstrating a love for the poor, building bridges of understanding among Christians and sharing a concern for the environment.
“Pope Francis will long be remembered more than anything else as a pastor, a pastor of our church, the pastor of our world, who gave us, in his ministry, a reason to hope,” he said. “The holy father taught us that the heart of the gospel of Jesus is the message of hope and mercy for everyone.”
Bambera said the pope called on the church to reflect the richness of God’s mercy and to share it with others, especially those most in need.
“His focus on God’s mercy, and that no one is excluded from it was not just an abstract teaching, it permeated everything he did from his encounters with the poor and marginalized to his tireless efforts to foster peace and reconciliation around the globe,” Bambera said.
The bishop also offered prayers for the late pope.
Narrimone Thammavongsa of West Scranton hopes the church will continue Pope Francis’ legacy of love, compassion and mercy in everyday life.
“The Church must remain a beacon of hope and comfort, particularly for the marginalized and those in need,” she said in a text message after the Mass. “The next Pope should inspire all of us to embody these principals, ensuring that our actions consistently align with the core message that God is love and mercy is the cornerstone of our faith.”
Thammavongsa said she wants to see a leader who shows genuine concern for the needs of the faithful, leads with conviction and prioritizes the needs of the faithful and the wider church. She also hopes that like Francis, the next pope fosters peace and reconciliation.
“This quality is desirable and essential for uniting Catholics and bridging divides with other Christian denominations and faiths,” Thammavongsa said. “Building understanding and compassion among diverse communities is crucial, and the next Pope’s commitment to this cause will give us hope for the Church’s future in an increasingly divided world.”
Semih Kiyma acknowledged the pope’s role in building bridges between people of other faiths. He was among a small group of Turkish American Muslims who are part of the Chestnut Retreat Center outside Saylorsburg, a nonprofit organization bringing people of different faiths together and serving those in need, that came to stand with the Catholic Church during its period of mourning for the pope.
I’m very hopeful … we’ll do a lot of work together with the Catholic community in future to work for the common good of our societies together,” he said.
Vatican officials announced Pope Francis’ funeral will be Saturday, with the pope lying in state in St. Peter’s Basilica beginning Wednesday. Following the funeral, there will be are nine days of official mourning, known as the “novendiali.” During this period, cardinals arrive in Rome and meet privately before the conclave, which must begin 15 to 20 days after the “sede vacante” or the “vacant See,” is declared, according to the Associated Press.