New Yorkers mourned Pope Francis’ death on Monday, remembering his beloved clergy as “a surprising soul” as they shared fond memories of the two-day whirlwind stop at the Big Apple in 2015.
“A dying Pope is like losing a family father. This is one of us,” Father Donald Hagerty told a post outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.
“There are a lot of non-Catholic people who are crying today,” Hagerty said. “He touched a lot of people outside the church and outside the church.”
Francis passed away overnight at the age of 88 on Monday after battling a series of health issues in recent months. He was remembered as a transformative figure in the Catholic Church and led an age of compassion for the underprivileged people around the world.
“Pope Francis was a man who loved the poor,” Father Hagerty said. “Long before he became Pope he loved the poor, and he loved the poor in a beautiful way.”
During the Pope’s historic visit to New York in September 2015, he was warmly greeted by tens of thousands of local followers. He spoke, worshiped and worshiped in areas such as the United Nations, Central Park, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the 9/11 Memorial.
Carol Curtis, 81, of Chelsea, said she was in tears as she felt “reminiscent of Francis’ humility and ability to comfort people, and shed tears in her struggles to put her sadness into words.
“I think he was an incredible person. I think he’s the best when it comes to all the people we have as world leaders,” Curtis said.
“This is the most calming crowd I’ve ever seen at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Usually, tourists come in, but I felt it was important to stop by today,” she said.
“His legacy will be his humility, his ability to be with people and to listen and comfort them.”
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Cecilia Garcia, 67, who often visits St. Patrick, gloomyly reflected on Pope Francis’ death.
“When it’s time to go, you’re going. Whoever you are, wherever you are. That’s very sad,” she said.
She described the deceased Pope as a “surprising soul” and said she shed tears when she attended Monday’s service.
“May God rest his soul.”
Francis led an evening prayer at the iconic Midtown Church shortly after his flight landed at JFK Airport on September 24, 2015, to select the nuns in the crowd and thank the religious sisters for their service.
At one point, he congratulated the young woman in a wheelchair. The woman shed tears of joy as she placed her hands on her.
The next day, Francis worked at the UN General Assembly and made comments on issues close to his heart during his reign, including peace, poverty, and the environment. He urged global leaders to carry out their duties with integrity and mercy.
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Pope Francis’ convoy then passed him through Central Park, where he waved to the more than 80,000 people gathered for public relations, hoping to turn his attention to the bishop.
He took part in a multi-faithful service at the 9/11 monument later that night, where he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with many other religious leaders.
One of the more casual stops during Francis’ city visits was Buenos Aires, an Argentine restaurant in the East Village. There, the Pope dined on a grill, which was made specifically for him, with grilled chicken with lemon, empanadas and bread pudding.
“My wife asked the Pope, ‘How was the chicken?’ he said ‘It’s very good,'” 66-year-old Ismael Albashechev recalled in a post Monday.
Alba described Francis as humble and funny, saying he discussed Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Germany at the 2014 World Cup.
Someone in the security details removed it when Alba placed his arm around the Pope for a photo, the chef said.
But the Pope didn’t have it, Alba said.
“I swear to my mother’s ashes, [Francis] “I’ve got my hands back and the Pope won’t bite,” recalled Alba.
Alba’s wife, Carina de Marco, called him “a great pope to the people” and “a very inclusive person” and said he felt “emotional” by calling him “a very inclusive person” regardless of his faith.
“He was a great guy,” De Marco shared.
