Catholics throughout the region -- and the world -- were in mourning on Monday upon learning that Pope Francis had died just one day after celebrating Easter at the Vatican.
Father Dennis Gill, pastor of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, told NBC10's Matt DeLucia he learned of the pontiff's death from a text and phone call from Nelson J. Pérez, archbishop of the Philadelphia Archdiocese, early Monday morning.
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WATCH HERE"I actually found out about the passing of our holy father with a text and a phone call from the archbishop. That was earlier this morning and then we both spoke on the phone for a few minutes after that and made plans for what we are going to do today for the Catholics and everyone in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia," he said.
The cathedral was open all day for prayer, and just after noon a special Mass was held with Archbishop Pérez at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in an effort to remember Pope Francis.
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SIGN UP Pérez, in speaking to the press before Mass on Monday morning, said that Pope Francis wanted to be there for Easter celebrations at the Vatican before he passed.
"He wanted to be there for Easter and he was," said Pérez. "He was there for Easter, spoke to the world, roamed around St. Peter's Square. How beautiful, right?"
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In discussing the loss of Pope Francis, Pérez recalled the pontiff's 2015 visit to the City of Brotherly Love during the World Meeting of Families.
"He was an amazing pope and he touched Philadelphia in an amazing way as he visited Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families in 2015," said Pérez. "He celebrated Mass at this very altar. All of those things come to our hearts today."
Gill too recalled Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia and the time he spend at the Cathedral Basilica.
"It's hard to believe that it was ten years and it was an amazing time for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and for all of us here in the archdiocese. But, for me especially, I have a profound memory of welcoming the holy father right there on the doorsteps of our Cathedral Basilica, presenting the crucifix to him and walking him up the aisle of the Cathedral Basilica," remembered Gill. "And being with him throughout those two days. It was a marvelous time of interaction with him."
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered all flags in the Commonwealth to be lowered to half-staff in Francis' memory through the pope's interment. President Donald Trump had earlier made a similar declaration for the entire country.
For Jason Douglas, a Philadelphia resident, upon learning of Pope Francis' passing, he said the news came at a time that is so tied to the story of the death and reresection of Jesus.
"It hit me that, it's wonderful that it's Easter Monday, what a great time to prolong the message of love and being good -- the message of what happened on Easter," Douglas said.
He recalled Pope Francis' visit to the city in 2015, saying he was here then with his mother, who was 81 years old, at the time.
"It's just about, when he came to Philadelphia how wonderful it was to include all faiths and include people of all backgrounds and say 'come into the church, it's about love,'" he said.
He also remembered when Pope John Paul II visited the city in 1979.
And today, Douglas said he intends to attend the noontime mass at the Cathedral Basilica with his 91-year-old mother.
When asked what Catholics should be doing on this somber day of mourning following Pope Francis' death, Gill said that the most important thing to do is the pray.
"The most important thing that all of us can do during this period is to turn to the lord," he said. "Ask the lord to be with the church and with all of us, because the church belongs to the lord and the lord will provide for us and provide for the church's leadership."
Local politicians share reactions to Pope Francis' passing
Throughout the morning, elected officials from throughout the region shared remembrances of Pope Francis. Philadelphia state representative Malcolm Kenyatta said Pope Francis's death was a "tremendous loss for the Church and the world."
“This is a tremendous loss for the Church and for the world,” Kenyatta said. “He led with humility, spoke with moral courage and never stopped reminding us of our obligation to care for ‘the least of these.’ I still remember seeing him on the Parkway during his first visit to Philadelphia—standing among thousands, I felt the weight and wonder of that moment. It’s a memory that’s stayed with me. During that same trip, he signed a mural made in his honor on the back of St. Malachy School — right in the heart of my legislative district. A small act, but a lasting symbol of his reach and resonance."
In a statement online, Scranton-born former president Joe Biden said that Pope Francis would be remembered as "one of the most consequential leaders of our time."
It is with great sadness that Jill and I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. He was unlike any who came before him. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him. For decades, he served… pic.twitter.com/GsE03QNoHj
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 21, 2025
Also, in a statement, Delaware Senator Chris Coons remarked on Pope Francis' death, noting that he was personally "inspired by his teachings."
“Pope Francis has been an inspiring faith leader whose transformative papacy has shown the Spirit of Christ through his humility, his open-hearted engagement with the world, his tireless advocacy for peace, and his focus on the poor and the marginalized. I had the blessing of meeting the Holy Father twice, and was inspired by his teachings. I was struck by both his words and his actions when he visited the United States to address Congress in 2015. He called on us to overcome our partisan political differences to work together in service of the poor and the planet, and while in the U.S., he spent time meeting with migrants, the homeless, and the imprisoned to show us how to live out Christ’s teachings," wrote Coons in a statement. "Pope Francis often reminded us that “we are all in the same boat” – that no one can thrive and live well without the support of others. His ministry was infused with mercy, grace, and love, and particularly in times of strife, he reminded us that through acts of unrestricted kindness we can overcome any storm, any moment of challenge, together."
While, in New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy said he and his wife were "heartbroken" over the loss of Pope Francis.
"Tammy and I are heartbroken by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. Throughout his life, Pope Francis taught all of us to lead with compassion, conviction, and humility," Murphy wrote in a statement “From Buenos Aires to Rome, he reminded us that we are inextricably bound to one another, and that we all have a sacred duty to alleviate suffering across the world. He was a model of mercy and inclusivity, never hesitating to comfort the sick, the indigent, or the most marginalized among us. Tammy and I send our prayers to everyone who, like us, found deep solace and hope in Pope Francis’s words and the example he set. In his honor, let us continue striving, as Pope Francis once urged us, to ‘seek for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves.’”
Christian colleges remark on the death of Pope Francis
LeSalle University's Brother Robert Schieler spoke to NBC10 about the pontiff's passing, saying he was initially shocked to learn that Pope Francis had died, as he seemed to be recovering well from recent bout of pneumonia.
Schieler said he worked in Rome for some time under Pope Francis' papacy and, he remembered one comment Pope Francis made that always stuck with him.
"When he stood on the balcony that night he was elected pope, he said, a great peace came over him. And, that peace never left him," remembered Schieler. "That peace that came over him that night he was elected and was standing on the balcony, looking at the crowd below on St. Peter's Square, he said that peace never left him, despite all the challenges, despite all the problems, despite all the responsibilities, the peace that the spirit descended upon him never left him. I thought that was a wonderful statement."
At St. Joseph's University, Rev. Daniel R. J. Joyce told NBC10 that he was shocked by the news after watching Pope Francis during Easter services at the Vatican.
But, after some reflection, Joyce said, he felt a "sense of peace," about the news.
"I thought, you know, he's done an incredible task of being a world leader and a leader of the Catholic Church. And, I felt a sense of peace about him now entering into the fullness of God," said Joyce.
This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
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