SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Some of the largest figures in the Catholic community have shared a mix of memories, condolences, and sadness this morning as Pope Francis passed away in the early hours of April 21. 

Bishop Rhoades on the death of Pope Francis:

“Today, Easter Monday, Pope Francis, reached the end of his earthly pilgrimage. He passed from this life to the one promised by our Risen Lord. We mourn the death of our beloved Holy Father with much sadness but also with the inner joy that springs from our hope in eternal life.

For the past 12 years, Pope Francis has been a shining example for the Church and the world of the joy and hope of the Gospel. He has been a tireless voice for the poor, the suffering, and the forgotten, calling all of us to be witnesses of Christ our hope through our love for all those who are in need.

He has repeatedly taught us by his words and actions that the preferential option for the poor is at the center of the Gospel and of the Church’s mission. I think this will be Pope Francis’ most enduring legacy.

The last time I spoke with the Holy Father was this past October, at the end of the Synod in Rome, when I thanked him for his latest encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was his fourth and last encyclical, a beautiful reflection on the love of Christ, the love that conquers sin and death.

He taught how the Church and the world need that love. Yesterday, in his Easter message, Pope Francis wrote that all who put their hope in God are to be witnesses of the victory of love. Death is the moment of great encounter with the God of love. As we mourn the death of Pope Francis, let us pray that the Lord in His love will welcome him into His glory, the eternal joy of heaven.”

Bishop Rhodes had a chance to visit the Vatican and meet Pope Francis in June of 2023. 

"What a blessing to be with two priests and a seminarian from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, and a group of Fort Wayne-South Bend pilgrims and meet Pope Francis on Friday, June 19, following an audience with him as he spoke to members of the committees organizing the National Eucharistic Revival and the National Eucharistic Congress in the United States," Bishop Rhodes said.

In July of 2023, Bishop Rhodes was picked by Pope Francis to attend the first general assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality in October of the same year. He was joined by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Bishop Daniel E. Flores, and Bishop Robert E. Barron.

"This current synod, on the topic of synodality, has some changes that have been instituted by Pope Francis. There’s much more involvement of consultation of the whole People of God throughout the world," Bishop Rhodes said on Nov. 15, 2023.

"This synod really began a couple of years ago with local churches engaging in small-group discussions and listening sessions on the mission of the Church, as we did here in our own diocese, and giving our input to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. A national synthesis was then drawn up that was included in the continental assembly, of which there were seven.

After the continental assemblies and their reports, a working document was made for the actual gathering of the assembly in Rome, which is what just took place. The instrumentum laboris, the working document, is what formed the basis for our discussions and various questions that we discussed and reflected upon."

Diocese of South Bend - Fort Wayne Bishop Kevin Rhoades will be holding a special Mass on Wednesday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne at 6 p.m. in honor of Pope Francis.