SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Monday, Bishop Stephen D. Parkes released this statement on the death of Pope Francis:

“I was saddened this morning to learn of the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and I join with the Universal Church in this time of mourning. May he journey swiftly to the Kingdom of Heaven.

The pontificate of Pope Francis was marked by his love for the poor and marginalized, and his encouragement to reach out to those on the periphery. Within the Church, he will be especially remembered for his call to missionary discipleship, which emphasizes evangelization and the spreading of the Good News, and for his desire for greater synodality, which embraces a commitment to communion, participation, and mission. The Holy Father was also deeply committed to caring for our world, calling on us to be good stewards of creation. His proclamation of the Year of Mercy in 2015 was a reminder of God’s incredible love for us, and for the need to foster a true compassion and forgiveness that is modeled on the person of Christ. During this Jubilee Year, he chose the theme “Pilgrims of Hope” to remind us that our Lord is with us through every challenge, and to encourage us to accompany one another with our eyes focused on Heaven, even as we work to build the Kingdom of God here on earth.

I will always have a special fondness for Pope Francis as he appointed me to the Episcopacy and to serve as Bishop of Savannah. I am humbled by the confidence he placed in my abilities and will be continually inspired by his leadership. I was blessed to meet him in September 2023 when I was in Rome for a course for recently appointed bishops and was impressed by his energy level and his passion for Holy Mother Church.

During these days of mourning, I encourage everyone to reflect upon the ministry of Pope Francis and to pray for the repose of his soul. In our daily Scripture readings through this Octave of Easter, we read about the days following the Resurrection of the Lord, where Jesus reassures us of His Presence, shares the gift of peace, and brings us hope for eternal and everlasting life. As Pope Francis endeavored to lead us to a deeper relationship with God here on earth, the news of his death will remind us of the fragility of life, the need to grow together in fellowship, and to greater hope for all that the Almighty has in store for us!”

A mass for Pope Francis will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. will provide a live stream of the mass for anyone unable to attend.