'Like our father or grandfather dying:' Pope Francis fondly remembered in Toronto
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Toronto resident Kathy Sacco will forever cherish the memory of a chance encounter she had with Pope Francis in 2017 after devastating earthquakes in Abruzzo, Italy.
As her hands trembled and the cold wind whipped her hair outside St. Michael’s Cathedral, Sacco showed an image on her cellphone of the Pope shaking hands with her daughter, Vanessa, and husband, Robert, after they helped donate a mobile hospital in a relief effort.
“It was very spiritual and a blessing. It was beautiful,” recalled Sacco as she put her hand over her heart outside the Bond St. cathedral on Monday.
At the time of their meeting, the Sacco family was in Abruzzo as part of the Italy Earthquake Relief Fund in the aftermath of the 2016 earthquake that killed 330 people and levelled some 1,000 square kilometres of the central region of the country — in Abruzzo, Umbria and Le Marche.
Many expressed surprise at hearing about the Pontiff’s death early on Easter Monday after seeing him in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, blessing the masses. The Vatican says Pope Francis died of a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure.
“There was such a blessing to see him yesterday (Sunday). And (today) he moved on to a better world. He is in God’s hands,” said Sacco.
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She came down to the Cathedral to “say my last blessings” and “my goodbyes” to the 88-year-old.
He ascended to become the leader of the Catholic Church in March 2013 and has been a huge advocate for migrants and reforms.
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Ottawa residents Theresa and Ward Sweet, who were in town visiting relatives over the weekend, came to St. Michael’s to pray and light some candles for the Pope.
“It’s sad, but he represented such humanity. I think it is good for all of us,” said Theresa. “And (his legacy) will certainly be remembered.”
Also outside the cathedral was Father Joshua Roldan, of St. John’s Parish on Kingston Rd., who showed up to pray and speak with those gathering, and St. Michael’s rector, Father Frank Portelli.
When Roldan was asked whether the new Pope might be Canadian, he responded it was still too early to say. He added it will take some time to conduct the funeral, and mark days of mourning, before the arrival of the College of Cardinals at the Vatican.
Portelli said to him the Pope means, “Papa of Father.”
“For all of us Catholics, it’s like our father or grandfather dying,” said Portelli.
Neil McCarthy, of the Archdiocese of Toronto, issued a release Monday saying there will be two masses for the Pope by Toronto Cardinal Francis Leo on Tuesday at 12:10 p.m., and at 7:30 p.m.
Cardinal Leo made a statement through the Archdiocese website on Monday that said, in part:
“Our Catholic family worldwide is in mourning following the death of our spiritual father, Pope Francis. Since 2013, our shepherd has guided the flock lovingly and served as a global ambassador of peace, hope and love. The Holy Father’s humility, compassion and care for others, most especially the poor and marginalized, has served as a powerful witness and a reminder of our daily call to reflect the face of Jesus to all those whom we encounter.”
A conclave of about 252 cardinals from around the world will gather at the Vatican, of which 135 — under the age of 80 — will be eligible to vote during a 15- to 20-day process of electing a new Pope.
Some of the front runners could be Canadian cardinals Thomas Collins, 78, former archbishop of Toronto, who was named a cardinal in 2012 by Pope Benedict, and Quebec’s Cardinal Marc Ouellet, 80, head of the Vatican’s bishops office from 2010 to 2023.
Others include Cardinal Pietro Parolin, of Italy, 70; Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, of Austria, 80; Cardinal Luis “Chito” Tagle, of the Philippines, 67; and Cardinal, Matteo Zuppi, of Italy, 69.
— With files from CP
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