Diocese of Jefferson City observes nine-day mourning period for Pope Francis

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Local Catholics began a nine-day mourning period Monday after the death of Pope Francis.

Francis died Easter Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced.

His death comes one day after blessing Catholics who gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. In his last speech, the pope called for an end to the wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan.

Catholics in the Diocese of Jefferson City began Novendiale on Monday, a nine-day mourning period that follows the death of a pope. This time of mourning is an ancient tradition of the Catholic Church.

The Diocese of Jefferson City serves 75,000 Catholics in 38 counties and is home to more than 90 Catholic parishes.

Bells will ring out 88 times Monday at all churches in the diocese, according to a news release. Each toll will represent one year of Pope Francis' life.

Tuesday, a Rosary will be prayed for the pope at all diocesan Catholic schools, the release says. Schools are closed on Monday in observance of Easter.

Friday, a memorial mass will be held for Pope Francis at noon at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City. The release says that additional memorial masses will be held at other locations around the diocese. In the meantime, special accommodations will be made for people wanting to pray at churches.

Catholics will be invited to watch the funeral of Pope Francis together. More details and the location will be announced when available, the release states.

The Rev. Shawn McKnight, recently appointed archbishop-designate of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, said in a statement Monday that mourning should be used as a time for reflection.

"As we mourn, let us reflect on this remarkable chapter in the life of our Church — one embodied by a Pope who lived the Christian virtues of humility, authenticity, openness, and hope," McKnight said in a statement.

After being appointed by Pope Francis, McKnight was ordained the fourth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City on Feb. 6, 2018. He said the pope modeled a life of compassion with an open heart and mind.

"He helped us see the universal nature of our Church, reminding us that we are one body in Christ, regardless of nationality or status," McKnight said in a statement. "And at a time in history marked by growing division, Pope Francis showed us how we can seek to sow unity — by simply speaking with one another and listening with an open heart."

John Frymire -- an associate professor of history at the University of Missouri -- said Pope Francis will be remembered for his morals.

"When he attempted to do diplomacy, he did it on the basis of his moral authority," Frymire said. "So for example, he went to Africa in the midst of a civil war, risked death. It was a combat zone. He brought in Zelensky from Ukraine. He attempted to bring peace."

Frymire worked at the Vatican from 1997-99. He said Francis's pontification marked many firsts.

"The first thing that you should distinguish with Francis was the guy comes from South America, No. 1. No. 2, he's a Jesuit. No. 3, he's a missionary," Frymire said. "He doesn't look inward to Europe or the United States or the places we think most Catholics would be. He looks outward. He looks to Africa. He looks to South America, where the church's population is growing. And his mission was always to speak to those people."

Frymire said Jesuit popes are rare, as many are Franciscans or Dominicans.

"He was exactly the kind of pope we needed at this time," Frymire said. "I would also say he's exactly the kind of pope that certain people in power will ignore or acknowledge, depending on their perspective."

Pope Francis met with Vice President JD Vance on Sunday, making Vance one of the last leaders to meet with him.

"The current political climate in the United States made him very uncomfortable," Frymire said. "So the key moving forward will be to see what the College of Cardinals does. Are we going to get another Francis or somebody much more on the other side. Because the Catholic Church has both sides."

Frymire added that Pope Francis was utterly humble and at the same time brilliant.

"One of his more famous statements is, 'Who am I to judge,'" Frymire said. "The reference was to the question of homosexuality."