Pope Francis remembered by Massachusetts Catholics for his humility and forgiveness
Among the tens of thousands mourners who flocked to the Vatican to pay their final respects to Pope Francis this week is the dean of students at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Massachusetts, a church history teacher drawn to the tradition and the gravity of the moment.
"To see the Pope and to pay my respects was really, really surreal. It was really emotional to be together with people from all over the world," said John Guinan, who spoke with WBZ-TV from St. Peter's Square.
Pope Francis remembered for mercy and forgiveness
Guinan said Pope Francis was about mercy and forgiveness, history's first Latin-American pontiff who charmed the world with a humble style and concern for the poor.
"His messaging and his approach to things was very much a pastoral approach, which made him different," said Guinan
It's a sentiment shared among people stopping by the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston on Friday.
Mourners stop by Boston cathedral
"Humility, he was humble. He kept it real, I think he was for the people and had compassion for the less fortunate," said Denise Alexiadis.
Her nephew Elijah said Pope Francis had a message of peace and equality.
"There should be more Christ-like figures like him, sad to see him go," said Elijah.
Black bunting on the cathedral doors marks the moment. The death of Pope Francis set up a weeks-long process to pay final respects followed by Saturday's funeral and the conclave to elect a new pope.
"I think the cardinals have to say, OK, where is the church now in responding to the needs of the world," said Guinan. "I think they need to see what person is best going to respond both to the needs of the church but also to an increasingly secular society in the west."
As welcoming as Francis was, Frank Bechard hopes the church doors can be opened even wider.
"You don't see a lot of young people, you do see some, but it's dying. We need a miracle," said Bechard.
Pope Francis was seen as a breath of fresh air to the 2,000 year old institution that must now decide how his shoes will be filled.
