Statement on the Death of Pope Francis

Following is a statement of Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference:

"We at the New York State Catholic Conference mourn the loss of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, whose death on this Easter Monday morning comes as a shock, even if we knew that he was very ill. 

"Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis softened the face of the Church to the world. Without changing a single teaching, he nevertheless brought many to the faith through his words of mercy and accompaniment. His message resonated with untold millions of people — Catholic and non-Catholic, religious or not — as did his simple lifestyle, plain talk, and sense of humor.

"Early in his pontificate, Pope Francis said he dreamed of’ 'a poor Church for the poor,' and it is clear that he never lost sight of that dream, keeping the poor, the migrant, the abuse survivor, the ‘other' in his heart and at the center of his ministry until the end. One of his last public statements before his final illness was to the Bishops of the United States, urging them to continue to stand up for migrants and refugees in the face of mass deportation policies of the new administration.

"We have had many popes, but we have never had one quite like Pope Francis. His was a historic pontificate, and his successor will have enormous shoes to fill. We pray for the cardinals - including our own Cardinal Timothy Dolan - as they prepare in the coming weeks to choose a man to lead the Church into the future. In this Jubilee Year of Hope - designated so by Pope Francis himself - we dare to hope for a Successor of St. Peter who loves the poor and the marginalized as much as our beloved Francis.

"Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."