Death of Pope Francis leaves many Black Catholics in mourning and also praying

Pope Francis, who became the head of the Roman Catholic Church on March 2013 and who died in April 2025, will be sorely missed by Catholics in general, but particularly by those outside the mainstream. The mourning in many poor, Catholic communities will likely be on par with what America witnessed at the time of the deaths of Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, or Martin Luther. Like them, he was a man for the common people.

From his writings, speaking, and personal actions, he demonstrated love and concern for the poor and working class, immigrants and oppressed people, handicapped and ostracized groups and individuals, and those who have been victimized in various ways. He, on many occasions, deliberately turned aside from the pomp and trappings of his office in order to show others that he identified with them and to serve as an example for other members of the clergy. Black and other marginalized people understand and can appreciate such pastors. 

 Pope Francis spoke out as a progressive voice on democracy and human rights, racial and social justice, environmental protection, war and peace, and virtually every other human issue. His progressive voice may have been wrapped in religious diction or phraseology, but it was full of wisdom and clearly understood and appreciated by common people.

On the other hand, there is no mistake about it, many conservative Catholics opposed what he represented and turned away from him, if not the church. It was often felt by some conservatives that his acceptance and even promotion of the expression of the liturgy in the native culture of the congregation was diluting it. Francis felt, however, that both the liturgy and dogma needed to be more open in order to be more human and Christian. 

Many Black Catholics understand the need for and the reality of such openness, which in reality is what liberty is all about. It is this spirit and this openness that drew the writer and many other Black people to the Catholic Church. It is also what encouraged the beginning of the original and the resurrected Black Catholic Congresses. For them Catholicism represented the fullness of human brotherhood, even as members sometimes experienced racial prejudice at a local church. 

With the death of Pope Francis, many are wondering what type of papal leader will replace him. There are now 135 cardinals who will select the new pope. It is the largest and most ethnically diverse conclave to ever vote on a new pope. That may be a positive in the selection of someone who possesses the kind of progressive-minded thinking as Pope Francis.

For sure then, thousands of Black Catholics are mourning the death of Pope Francis and praying for the conclave. The Church needs his spirit as it moves ahead without his daily, physical presence. This many Black Catholics reflect on, even as they pray for the repose of his soul.