Tears, Prayers, and Reflection: Michigan Catholics Pay Tribute to Pope Francis

Pope Francis’s passing at the age of 88 triggered a profound sense of loss to wash over Michigan Catholics, especially in metro Detroit. He is regarded here as an incorrupt light of goodness, humility, and progressive compassion. The responses of parishioners, clergy, and other faith leaders offer the broad spectrum of the late pope’s leadership on both spiritual and secular fronts.

Special Masses were celebrated Monday night throughout Michigan to honor the memory of Pope Francis, and hundreds gathered at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. They included Pat Karasinksi of Shelby Township, 70, who had never stepped into the historic church before that evening. Goaded by an urge to pay tribute to a pope who was popular with the people in her imagination, Karasinksi made the following observation, “He was for the people. I think he did a lot of good for the Catholic Church… I just hope the Church can find another person as good as he was.”

To others, it is just business as usual, that feeling of personal connection to Pope Francis. Southeast Michigan’s Catholics, whose membership has grown to nearly 900,000 members, spoke about how he makes religion feel warm and intimate. Detroit Archbishop Edward Weisenburger, installed by Pope Francis in February of this year, presided over the “Mass of Suffrage” and read from a line he’s heard Pope Francis utter many times: “A little mercy makes the world less cold and more just.” Weisenburger, in his proclamation and homily, appealed to Pope Francis’ long-standing commitment to peace and justice.

“He urged peace and disarmament,” Weisenburger read from the Pope’s last Easter message, appealing for solidarity with the suffering – Gaza to Ukraine and Sudan. Pope’s Easter message was, in spite of his sickness, a strong reaffirmation against violence in the world and against antisemitism, and a passionate appeal for safeguarding life babies in the womb to immigrants.

Inside St. Aloysius Church in downtown Detroit, parishioners prayed silently. Others grasped Rosaries, others cried and wiped away tears, and numerous others sat in contemplation as they sat through the 30-minute Rosary prayer leading up to Mass. Denise Danko, 71, of Sterling Heights was another repeat first-timer at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. “He was a little more progressive… reached out to the LGBT,” she said, also praising his in-your-face manner of calling out the clergy abuse scandals. “He just called people out on it.”

Detroit’s Capuchin Soup Kitchen Brother Gary Wegner was seconding the view that Pope Francis was the humble. “Mercy and kindness are two words that immediately come to mind,” he said. “He was a man of faith who had faith in God’s mercy. That’s what he tried to preach and bear witness to the rest of us.”

Although most progressive Catholics appreciated Pope Francis for his initiatives towards outreach to the poor, migrants, and the LGBTQ+ community, his papacy was not without controversy. Some conservative Catholics in Michigan did not agree with his liberalism regarding the Latin Mass and reorganizing the Church. Organizations such as the disbanded Church Militant constantly criticized him for deviating from tradition.

But his greater impact cannot be overstated. In 2017, Pope Francis declared Detroit’s Father Solanus Casey “blessed,” a prelude to his being made a saint. And recently this spring, Pope Francis named Archbishop Weisenburger, an outspoken protector of immigrants. Governors such as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer were complimentary regarding Pope Francis’ compassion and leadership in the following: “He led with grace, compassion, and humility… and called for action on climate change, economic injustice, and peace.”

His influence went beyond the Catholic world too. In a 2020 Vatican gathering, Imam Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini of Dearborn Heights greeted Pope Francis as part of an interfaith delegation. The Imam referred to the late Pope as “a man of peace and wisdom,” adding his leadership brought Muslim-Catholic relations to record heights. “The death of Pope Francis is not only a loss for Catholics but Muslims,” he added.

Likewise, Narayanaswamy Sankagiri, chairman of Michigan’s Hindu Community Relations Council, appreciated Pope Francis’ effort to bring the Catholic Church nearer to being more responsible and caring. “He brought the Catholic Church’s highest office closer to the world’s poor,” Sankagiri said.

The pope’s 2021 visit to Iraq, where he saw Grand Ayatollah Sistani in Najaf, was particularly emotional for Michigan’s large Iraqi-American community. The encounter was generally seen as a historic step toward uniting people across faiths.

To local Catholics, his legacy will be not just in the titanic acts of doctrine or diplomacy but also in his humble, sincere deeds. Local Catholic Judy Brooks said he stood for immigrants, women in power, and LGBTQ+ individuals. “He lit fires of service… gave people the courage to serve who might otherwise have served in the shadows.”

Looking back on his experience traveling with the Pope in 2020, Archbishop Weisenburger said the one thing that struck him was the humility and sense of humor of Pope Francis. “He listened,” Weisenburger said, “as Jesuits tend to do.”.

In the end, Pope Francis will be known in Michigan not only as a spiritual figurehead, but as a shepherd to the people. His legacy – a profound affection for the poor, a plea for peace, and a courageous pursuit of mercy is one that will remain a challenge to Michigan’s Catholics to embrace his cause of service and compassion.