• Pope Francis is remembered by Catholics in metro Detroit as a man of “kindness.”
• Prayers are being held today at Catholic centers in metro Detroit for Pope Francis, who died at 88.

Catholics and others in Michigan mourned the death of Pope Francis, saying his legacy of compassion and kindness will be remembered by many.

In a statement issued April 21, Archbishop of Detroit Edward Weisenburger said: “My heart is heavy as our world has lost a powerful, prophetic, and loving voice. However, I also rejoice in what I pray will be a blessed reward of joy beyond all understanding for a truly great and loving Universal Shepherd.”

Pope Francis “was a man of peace” who gave a “constant call for the end of all violence and war,” said Weisenburger, who was named by Pope Francis to lead the archdiocese in February.

The late pontiff was also praised Monday by leaders of other denominations and faiths in metro Detroit, including in Muslim, Hindu and Jewish communities.

Prayers for the Pope are being held today at Catholic centers across metro Detroit, including at the seat of the Archdiocese of Detroit, Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese said. A news conference in Detroit by the archdiocese at 5:30 p.m. and a special Mass at 7 p.m. are planned for later Monday at the cathedral.

There are about 900,000 Catholics in southeastern Michigan, the largest religious group in the region. As the global leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis is seen as the representative of Christ on earth, but while he was praised by many, some conservatives took issue with him for views they said clashed with tradition.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer posted a thread on X praising the late pontiff, writing: “Pope Francis was an inspiration to countless Michiganders and people around the world. He led with grace, compassion, and humility. He fought against poverty and called for action on climate change, economic injustice, and peace.”

“Traditionally, when a Holy Father dies, you pray a Mass for the dead each day for him” until his funeral, explained Br. Gary Wegner, OFM Cap, the executive director of the Capuchins Soup Kitchen in Detroit, which feeds about 1,000 people every day. The type of work that happens at the soup kitchen is what Wegner said Pope Francis was about, looking out for marginalized people.

“In terms of the Holy Father’s legacy, I think kindness and mercy are two of the words” that come to mind, Wegner told the Free Press on Monday. “He trusted in the mercy of God. And that’s what he tried to preach and witness to the rest of us. There was one of his quotes that I particularly loved that he gave once in a talk: ‘a little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.'”

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Pope Francis’ impact was felt in metro Detroit in several ways. In 2017, he declared “blessed” Solanus Casey, as a Capuchin friar in Detroit, making him one step away from becoming a saint. The papal leader also named in February the new Archbishop of Detroit, Weisenburger, who has been outspoken in support of immigrants. Catholics who are progressive especially liked Pope Francis, saying he was more open towards groups such as LGBTQ+ people, migrants and the poor. Some conservative Catholics were upset with his views, saying he was too liberal in his positions, such as putting restrictions on traditional Latin Masses. In metro Detroit, the now-defunct rightwing media site, Church Militant, often railed against Pope Francis.

This year, Pope Francis clashed at times with the administration of President Donald Trump, who has vowed to carry out a record number of deportations.

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At a meeting last month at the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit of Catholics who support immigrants, the Free Press asked attendees their views of Pope Francis. All praised him, saying he was carrying out the true mission of the Catholic Church.

Nick Chuey, of Trenton, called him a “faithful servant to Jesus Christ.”

Judy Brooks, a local Catholic in the archdiocese, said Pope Francis “always supported immigrants,” LGBTQ+ people and women, supporting efforts to increase the numbers of women in leadership roles.

“In terms of social teaching, I think he has supported and ignited … flames of service, giving people courage to serve that might otherwise have been working in the shadows,” Brooks said.

Weisenburger said his death brings “immense sadness.”

“Our Holy Father once said, ‘Some people want to know why I wished to be called Francis. For me, Francis of Assisi is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation.’ While it is impossible to measure Pope Francis’ impact on our Church and world, I believe the three aspects he referenced will be a lasting influence.”

The Detroit archbishop added: “As an icon of Christ Himself, the Holy Father’s deepest wounds were revealed in the world’s violence, death, and destruction, all of which he cried out against. His clarion call for peace was truly an echo of Christ’s own. … His leadership and witness have shaped my episcopal priorities and ministry over these past 11 years.”

The leader of the Diocese of Grand Rapids in west Michigan, Bishop David Walkowiak, echoed Weisenburger’s views, saying that Pope Francis “served those whom the world often considered outcasts.”

“Pope Francis sought to break down barriers and draw people into an encounter with Christ in the Catholic Church,” the Grand Rapids bishop said. “He challenged priests to be shepherds with the ‘smell of the sheep,’ and constantly reminded us of the dignity of the unborn, migrants and refugees, and prisoners. He was a man of action, ministering to the homeless in Rome, visiting refugee camps, and washing the feet of prisoners. His pastoral heart, use of relatable language, and witness to serving people on the margins stand as an example for all people.”

Steve Spreitzer, a longtime interfaith activist in Michigan who left the Catholic Church decades ago because he felt it had become too conservative, praised Pope Francis: “The past 12 years have been a blessing as Pope Francis, whose grandparents fled the fascism of Italy leaving him with a familial connection to the plight of migrants and refugees and a window into the struggles of the poor, called upon the psychospiritual strength of the faithful to consider the totality of the message of Jesus and to engage in social justice.”

Leaders of other faiths also praised Pope Francis, saying he promoted understanding and cooperation with diverse groups.

Imam Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini, a prominent Muslim leader in Michigan who leads the Islamic Institute of Knowledge in Dearborn Heights, met Pope Francis in January 2020 at the Vatican as part of an interfaith delegation.

“The passing of Pope Francis is not only a loss for Catholics but for Muslims as well,” Al-Qazwini said. “He is a man of peace and wisdom and through his efforts, Muslim-Catholic relations reached an unprecedented level of cooperation and mutual understanding.”

Pope Francis visited Iraq in 2021, a visit that was praised by Michigan’s large Iraqi American population, both Christian and Muslim.

“His historic visit to Grand Ayatollah Sistani in Najaf Iraq in 2021 was remarkable in the sense that it was the first between the heads of two religions in two millenniums,” Al-Qazwini said, referring to a Shia cleric in Iraq widely followed in Michigan and around the world. “I had the privilege of meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican. I was moved by his humility and kindness. I would like to offer my condolences to Catholics in Michigan and around the world on his passing.”

Narayanaswamy Sankagiri, president of the Hindu Community Relations Council, also praised the late pontiff.

“Pope Francis brought the highest seat of Catholic Church closer to the global poor and championed reform and accountability in this great institution,” Sankagiri said. “As a young student, I attended Jesuit college in my native India, and as a Hindu community leader now here in metro Detroit area, I humbly salute this former Jesuit priest who left us today.”

The Jesuit community in Michigan praised their fellow Jesuit. Pope Francis was the first papal leader who was part of the religious order.

“Pope Francis has been a blessing to the Church and the world primarily in calling us to our pastoral roots,” Jim Boynton, president of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in Detroit, said in email to staff and others. “He has focused on refugees, the marginalized, and named cardinals from every corner of the world. He has been a consistent voice for peace, prioritized listening to the faithful, and calls us to care for the environment.”

Reporters Kristen Shamus and Nushrat Rahman contributed to this report.

Contact Niraj Warikoo: [email protected] or X @nwarikoo