Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Funeral of Pope Francis: Late pontiff believed that ‘church is a home for all’

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Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis was “a pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone,” said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, as he presided over the funeral of the pope, who died April 21 at the age of 88. And the people — an estimated […]

Embracing ‘peripheries,’ Pope Francis preached mercy, reconciliation

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, who died April 21 at age 88, gave new energy to millions of Catholics — and caused concern for some — as he transformed the image of the papacy into a pastoral ministry based on personal encounters and strong convictions about poverty, mission and […]

Dates for public viewing, funeral are set

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The funeral Mass of Pope Francis will be celebrated April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the liturgy, which begins a nine-day period of official mourning and daily memorial Masses. The […]

Pope died of stroke, coma and heart failure, Vatican says

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis died April 21 after suffering a stroke and heart failure, said the director of Vatican City State’s department of health services. The pope had also gone into a coma. “I certify that His Holiness Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on […]

Church has precise rules for navigating time between popes

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Centuries of experience dealing with the death, or occasional resignation, of a pope has left the Catholic Church with thorough instructions detailing who has responsibility for planning the funeral, preparing for the election of a new pope and taking care of essential business in the meantime. […]

Timeline: Highlights of a historic pontificate

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Here is a timeline of some significant events in Pope Francis’ 12-year pontificate: 2013, March 13: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected pope on the second day of the conclave, becoming the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European elected in almost […]

Passing of Pope Francis is a first in tradition of opening Holy Doors

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By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — With his death April 21, Pope Francis marked yet another first in the history of the Catholic Church: he became the first pope to open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica without living to close it. The pope opened the Holy Door Dec. 24, 2024, […]

Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis put on hold; memorial Mass scheduled

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — With the death of Pope Francis, the April 27 canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis was postponed and the Mass scheduled for that day will be a memorial Mass, the Vatican said. “Following the death of the Supreme Pontiff Francis, notice is hereby given that the Eucharistic […]

Pope was steadfast in defending every life as sacred

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — In his efforts to promote a holistic defense of human life, Pope Francis frequently denounced a “throwaway culture” where anyone not considered “useful” was seen as disposable — including the unborn and the aged. But in connecting the sacredness of the life of the unborn and […]

Famed architect, five others move 1 step closer to sainthood

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — A week before his death, Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of one woman and five men, including Antoni Gaudi, the Spanish architect who designed the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, Spain. The Vatican announced April 14 that the pope authorized the decrees during an audience […]