Easter Monday is known for resurrection, but this year it marks the passing of Pope Francis, who died of a stroke and heart failure on April 21.
The 88-year-old pontiff leaves behind the memory of his peaceful presence, as described by Father Jose Manjaly at St Nicholas of Myra Parish Penrith.
“As a Catholic priest, I was very influenced by his way of life and his teachings. I was especially touched when he called an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015,” Father Jose said.
The 266th pope was elected in 2013 and selected his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi, who was known for his care of the poor and underprivileged.
“St Francis of Assisi was a standout saint, and Pope Francis was a need for the time,” the local priest said.
“As a priest, I felt it was becoming very hard to be a good Christian in that time. His teachings had an influence on the whole world.
“Nowadays it’s not as easy to follow Jesus’ teachings of ‘Love your neighbour as you would yourself’, it’s a big challenge, and in such a difficult time, Pope Francis spoke words of hope.”
Many Penrith locals mourned the loss of the beloved figure.
“We have a big community, and on Tuesday at the early morning mass at 6.45am, people came up and shared their sadness and how they felt losing a great hope in their life,” Father Jose said.
“At 6.45am we normally get 30 to 40 people, but around 60 to 70 people came.”
Next Monday, the church will host an evening mass at 7pm to honour Pope Francis, focus on his purpose, and reflect on his teachings.
Ally Hall
Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.