'THE GUIDING LIGHT'

(OSV News) -- Pope Francis, who died April 21 at age 88, "will long be remembered for his outreach to those on the margins of the Church and of society," Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement shared in the first hours after the pope's death.

"He renewed for us the mission to bring the Gospel out to the ends of the earth and offer divine mercy to all. He has also taken advantage of the present Jubilee to call us to a profound hope: one that is not an empty or naïve hope, but one grounded in the promise of Almighty God to be with us always," Archbishop Broglio wrote.

Bishops around the United States began issuing tributes to Pope Francis and his 12-year pontificate shortly after the news of his death April 21, Easter Monday. He died at the Vatican 7:35 a.m. Rome time.

Pope Francis had been recovering from pneumonia and respiratory infections after having been released from Rome's Gemelli hospital March 23 following more than five weeks of treatment.

Bishops pointed to Pope Francis' historic and key contributions and shared their personal appreciations.

"Even with his roots in the Piedmont region of Italy, the first Pope from our American Continent was marked by his experience as a Jesuit and a shepherd in Buenos Aires. He brought that experience and vision with him to his ministry for the universal Church," said Archbishop Broglio, who is also head of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services. "Recently, he expressed anew prayerful hope in his letter of support to the Bishops of this country in our attempts to respond to the face of Christ in the migrant, poor, and unborn. In fact, he has always used the strongest and clearest expressions in the defense of the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death."

Nodding to the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope Pope Francis inaugurated Dec. 24, Archbishop Broglio said he last saw the pope at the Jubilee Mass for the Armed Forces, Police and Security Personnel, held at the Vatican Feb. 8-9, just days before the pope was admitted to the hospital Feb. 14.

Standing in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral, where a portrait of Pope Francis was flanked by lit candles alongside an empty chair draped with purple and white stoles, Cardinal Timothy P. Dolan of New York shared informal reflections on Pope Francis during a morning Mass.

"Beyond the sorrow, the sadness that we feel at the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, we express our faith in the resurrection of Jesus," he said before the Mass' opening prayer. In his homily, he called attention to Pope Francis' last public words being his Easter blessing.

"Yes we are sad, but we are filled with Easter joy," Cardinal Dolan said. "When we believers are kind of a little lost and don't know quite what to do, we always rely on prayer. Here we are, this second day of Easter, this Easter Monday, hearing the news of our Holy Father passing over. Here we are at the greatest prayer of all, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which we offer, asking the Lord's mercy on his immortal soul, thanking God for the gift that he was to us, and asking for consolation upon God's family."

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago called Pope Francis' death "a moment of profound loss for me personally and for the Church."

"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," said Cardinal Cupich, who served in several Vatican dicasteries under Pope Francis. "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."

Archbishop Richard G. Henning of Boston said that Pope Francis' "legacy as Holy Father is broad and deep" and his example "remains a guiding light to the Universal Church."

"In his ministry and across his writings, he has continuously called us to deeper faith and to a more generous participation in the boundless compassion of God," Archbishop Henning, whom Pope Francis last year appointed to succeed Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley as leader of the Boston Archdiocese, wrote in a statement. "He has challenged us to turn away from selfish impulses and towards communion with others and respect for God's creation."

Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh praised Pope Francis' pontificate, writing, "Pope Francis led the Church with extraordinary humility, compassion, and courage. He reminded us that mercy is at the heart of the Gospel, and he consistently called us to encounter one another with tenderness and care -- especially the poor, the suffering, and the forgotten. His voice echoed far beyond the walls of the Church, inviting people of all backgrounds to walk together in peace, justice, and love."

In his personal encounters with Pope Francis, he said, "what struck me most was not just the dignity of his office, but the warmth of his heart."

"His attention to each person, his gentle spirit, and his genuine kindness left a lasting impression on me and so many others," Bishop Zubik continued in his April 21 statement. "He was a shepherd who smelled like his sheep -- and the world is better for it."

Bishop David J. Walkowiak of Grand Rapids, Michigan, one of the first bishops Pope Francis appointed during his pontificate, said in a statement, "Pope Francis sought to break down barriers and draw people into an encounter with Christ in the Catholic Church."

"Like Jesus, he served those whom the world often considered outcasts. 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 said. "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."

Archbishop Robert G. Casey of Cincinnati, who was installed April 3, also pointed to the Jubilee Year and its call for hope as he marked Pope Francis' death.

"As we commend a good and faithful servant to God, let us remember that Pope Francis proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee Year of Hope -- awakening us to Christ, who is alive and present in our midst," he wrote, adding Psalm 27:14: "Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart, and hope in the Lord!"

"May we, then, be filled with hope -- hope that Pope Francis will receive the reward of a life poured out in selfless service and love for God's people and all creation; hope that Christ, who comforts us in our mourning, will send the Holy Spirit to be our Helper; and hope that this same Spirit will inspire and unite us as the Church to stand firm in faith, proclaiming the power of the Resurrection and the joy of the Gospel," Archbishop Casey said.

Many bishops ended their statements with traditional prayers for the repose of Pope Francis' soul and hope for his eternal rest.

"The passage from this life of the Bishop of Rome calls us to pray for his eternal rest and to continue on our path to a deeper union with the Lord Jesus," Archbishop Broglio said, noting how all the bishops were uniting in prayer for them. "We remember his leadership in inspiring nations, organizations, and individuals to a renewed commitment to care for each other and our common home."

This story is developing and will be updated.

Maria Wiering is senior writer for OSV News.