As the bells of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul rang solemnly across Center City Philadelphia, a sense of collective mourning settled over the faithful. The death of Pope Francis marked not only the end of a papacy, but the passing of a pastor who touched lives from the slums of Buenos Aires to the streets of the City of Brotherly Love.

For Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez, the news was personal. “Along with the people of the Church of Philadelphia and the entire Universal Church, I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis today,” he said in a heartfelt statement on April 21. But even amid sorrow, Pérez’s words reflected a deep gratitude for the life and ministry of a man whose spiritual leadership defined an era.

Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for over a decade and served as a priest for 56 years, leaves behind a legacy rooted in mercy, humility, and prophetic courage. “He tirelessly served the Church... with great fidelity and zeal,” Pérez noted. From university halls to Vatican synods, from papal balconies to pastoral visits among the poor, Francis never stopped walking with his flock.

A Visit That Still Echoes in Philadelphia

Perhaps nowhere in the United States was the pope’s pastoral style felt more vividly than in Philadelphia. In 2015, he visited the city for the World Meeting of Families, electrifying the region with his simplicity and warmth. His presence drew nearly a million people to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, but it was the intimate moments—his embrace of children, his words to prisoners, his quiet prayer in Independence Mall—that left an enduring mark.

“Pope Francis will always hold a special place in the heart of the Philadelphia region,” Archbishop Pérez affirmed. “That moment in time remains a precious gift that will not be forgotten.”

A Pastor First

Though a head of state and global figure, Francis always saw himself as a shepherd. His calls for peace, his insistence on justice for the poor, and his challenge to the Church to become a field hospital rather than a fortress made him one of the most recognizable moral voices of our time.

“He encouraged everyone to be an instrument of Christ’s compassionate love,” Pérez said, “by extending a kind and merciful hand to the marginalized and those most in need.”

From ecological encyclicals to fiery speeches against economic exclusion, from the reform of the Roman Curia to the empowerment of lay voices in Church decision-making, Francis reimagined the papacy not as a throne, but as a mission. His advocacy for synodality—a Church that listens, learns, and walks together—will shape Catholicism for generations.

A Global Pope, A Local Legacy

In Philadelphia, the memory of Francis remains woven into the fabric of parish life. The image of his visit hangs in churches. His call for missionary discipleship echoes in homilies and service projects. And now, as his life is commemorated, his spirit continues to animate the faith of a city that once welcomed him like family.

Archbishop Pérez invited all people of goodwill to join in prayer. “May God grant him the gift of eternal life and bring comfort to a Church in mourning,” he said.

A special Mass for the repose of Pope Francis' soul was celebrated at 12:05 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and the Shrine of Saint Katharine Drexel, streamed live for the faithful throughout the Archdiocese and beyond.

As the world says farewell to a pope who never tired of reaching the margins, Philadelphia joins in mourning—and in gratitude. The man who once rode through the Parkway in a modest Fiat, waving to the crowds with a gentle smile, now takes his place among the saints he so revered.

His papacy may be over, but his witness endures—in the hands that serve, the hearts that forgive, and the voices that keep calling for a more merciful Church.