Illinois leaders react to death of Pope Francis

CHICAGO - Illinois and Chicago leaders are offering condolences following the death of Pope Francis, remembering him as a global figure of faith, compassion and justice.

Pope Francis, the 266th Bishop of Rome and Sovereign of the Vatican City, died on Easter Monday. He was 88.

The Vatican confirmed his death early Monday in an announcement read out by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived.

"At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Ferrell said.

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago

"I have received word that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has died. In this moment of profound loss for me personally and for the Church, I take this moment to express our gratitude to our Heavenly Father for the gift of his papacy and to pray for the repose of his soul. The finest memorial we can offer is to re-form our hearts as Pope Francis asked - to see our brothers and sisters, to listen to them and to offer our prayers and actions that all may experience the fullness of God’s promise. As we mourn his passing, I ask that God comfort us, but also strengthen us to remain steadfast in carrying on the work of restoring our Church’s place in the world as a source of hope and an advocate for those in need."

Mayor Brandon Johnson

Pope Francis, the people’s pope, will be remembered as a faith leader who gave voice to the voiceless. He fought for the rights and the dignity of the poor, prisoners, migrants, and outcasts as part of his vision for peace and social justice. Guided by his deep faith in God and humanity, Pope Francis advocated for a world without war. His legacy will live on in the hearts of the millions of people throughout the world who took comfort in his message. May he rest in peace.

We will continue to learn from Pope Francis and take inspiration from the power of his moral clarity. "We have to state, without mincing words, that there is an inseparable bond between our faith and the poor. May we never abandon them."

Barack and Michelle Obama

"Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people. In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound – embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners – he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another. Today, Michelle and I mourn with everyone around the world – Catholic and non-Catholic alike – who drew strength and inspiration from the Pope’s example. May we continue to heed his call to "never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope."

Sen. Dick Durbin

"We have lost the messenger, but we must hold fast to the message of Pope Francis to love and respect one another. In a world of hate and fear, Pope Francis’ message of peace and understanding is needed now more than ever.

We should honor the Pope with a ‘Francis Day’ of world peace: stop the bombing in Ukraine and Gaza; feed the dying in Sudan and around the globe; and show kindness to one another."

Sen. Tammy Duckworth

"Pope Francis was a pillar of the Catholic Church, a beacon of hope, compassion and light in times of fear, hatred and darkness. Throughout his life, he taught us that in order to be great, we have to be good. He urged each of us to care for the poor, feed the hungry, be humble stewards of the Earth and treat others how we would want to be treated ourselves—even if they pray or live differently than us. His teachings remain as important as ever.

"May he rest in peace and may his spirit continue to uplift and guide all those who followed his sacred word."

Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia

"Today Catholics, and the world have lost a leader who defined his papacy by his humility and humanity. Pope Francis’ progressive legacy expands past the Church, being an advocate for peace for every person and community across the world. His perspective on interfaith dialogue and social justice paved the way for positive reforms in the Catholic community. He consistently drew attention to the plight of the poor and warned against a ‘culture of indifference’ towards marginalized populations. He condemned the criminalization and deportation of  immigrants and approved several measures that made the Catholic church more accepting of LGBTQ+ people. He condemned the bombing of civilians in Gaza.  In 2015, he called for the world to take action against global warming and environmental degradation in his second encyclical Laudato Si’. Through his sympathy and social consciousness, he emphasized the importance of humanitarianism and revitalized the hope of many. He was particularly loved in the Latino Catholic community as the first Pope of Latin American origin.

My social values have and will always be tied to my upbringing as a Catholic, and I will remember Pope Francis as a leader deeply committed to faith and justice. May he rest in peace."

Fr. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church

"Pope Francis  called the Catholic Church and the World to remember that the God we serve demands that we care for the Poor, disadvantaged and the abandoned. He  challenged us to treat every person with dignity and respect, and that Justice and Love are the DNA of the Gospel His voice of conscience will be terribly missed in these times as we are watching the very Soul of America being stripped away each day."

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