SUBMITTED PHOTO Jaime Williams of Marshalltown meets Pope Francis and shakes his hand in September 2023. Williams had the opportunity to meet the pontiff in a private audience of an international conference.

Many Catholics in the world grieved Monday upon hearing about the death of Pope Francis early that morning.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday and died of a stroke on Monday at the age of 88. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he became the pope in 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict. He chose the name of Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis was the first person to be elected to the leadership role who was a Jesuit, who was from South or North America and from outside of Europe since the eighth century, the 700s.

Father Alan Dietzenbach, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Marshalltown, said they were caught off guard with the death the day after Easter, even though Pope Francis had been sick for the last several months and there was a time there that was touch-and-go.

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he passed away the day after the most significant day of the year for Christians,” he said. “I got the text message at 4:45 a.m. and couldn’t believe it.”

Dietzenbach did not get the opportunity to meet Pope Francis, but was able to see him when he brought a group of parishioners to Rome in 2019. However, Jaime Williams of Marshalltown had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis in September 2023.

“I was filled with deep sadness yesterday,” he said. “While we’ve had great popes during the course of my lifetime, I think Pope Francis was the most pastoral. His leadership has been critical in the aftermath of the sex abuse scandal. The institutional reforms he championed and his outreach to the most vulnerable and marginalized people helped to rebuild faith and trust in the Church. Meeting him was one of the great honors of my life, and I’ll miss him as our pope.”

Williams recalled his meeting with Pope Francis, which was in a private audience during an international conference. What struck Williams was how pastoral and personal the pope was.

“While he was addressing 153 of us in attendance, a toddler ran from his parents to the floor right behind where the pope was sitting,” he said. “The parents were horrified and started after him, and Pope Francis waved them off. He stopped his speech for a short period of time to call the child over for a hug.”

Immediately following the pope’s brief address, Williams said they were each invited to approach his chair for a handshake and a very brief introduction.

“There was a very deep and genuine peace about him,” he said. “He had a firm handshake and a very warm and personal smile. It just seemed very clear that meeting all these strangers was not a hardship for him, and that he really genuinely appreciated us being there. It was an incredibly humbling and moving experience.”

Since the Pope died the day after Easter, Dietzenbach said they are trying to figure out if they will hold events to commemorate him. However, they are sharing resources with parishioners from the United States Bishops Conference website, usccb.org, such as a novena with nine days of scripture readings and prayers for the repose of his soul. Dietzenbach added churches are invited to have a picture of Pope Francis in a prominent place and to pray for the next successor.

Impact

Pope Francis’ leadership of the Church certainly had an impact on Marshalltown Catholics. Dietzenbach believes he will primarily be remembered for his emphasis on going to places previous popes did not go, such as the American and Mexican border, Iraq, Israel and Palestine and countries where Catholics were a tiny minority.

“He stood with migrants and spoke out often about their rights to the consternation of many Western leaders,” he said. “In our diverse community of Marshalltown, I think that is an action that spoke to many people. I think he also didn’t shy away from people or difficult conversations and stretched everyone to show greater empathy and mercy.”

According to Dietzenbach, Francis was an “outside the box” pope from the first moment of his papacy — when he was presented on the balcony of St. Peters’ with a name no pope had used before.

“He started with ‘Buona Sera’ or ‘Good evening’ and asked the people to pray for him as he began his papacy,” he said. “. . . The next morning he went to the hotel and paid for his room, he would sneak out of the Vatican early in his papacy.”

Dietzenbach remembered a moment he feels is often overlooked — Pope Francis was the first pontiff to ever address the United States Congress.

“It was a unique moment in history and an event that has never, and I imagine will never happen again,” he said. “His speech was a marvelous one where he highlighted four Americans that represent the best of what the USA is all about — Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Thomas Merton and Dorothy Day.”

Dietzenbach believes the most important contribution of Pope Francis is the care he extended for people on the margins.

“Especially those impacted by war and climate change,” he said. “He also wrote a great deal on the dignity of the elderly. His emphasis on solidarity and that we are all brothers and sisters is a message we need badly in our time.”

Taking a moment to remember Pope Francis’ life and service is important. Dietzenbach said he noticed people on social media speculating, and placing bets on who the next pope will be.

“For many people, there is a tremendous sadness, and I think it’s important to acknowledge that grief,” he said. “I’m grateful that the Catholic Church doesn’t just call a conclave the next day, but gives us a significant time to grieve and pray together united in prayer throughout the world for this great holy man and follower of Jesus.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.