The Rev. Edward Looney, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano, joins the other 1.4 billion Catholics across the globe in praying for the soul of Pope Francis, who died April 21. He was 88.
“I had gone to bed the night before thinking about him after seeing him on the news make an appearance in the popemobile,” Looney said. “I thought what a wonderful recovery he’s made and what stories he would tell about it in the future.
“When I woke up at 4:30, I was really shocked and surprised. Social media was flooded with stories.”
Looney said he expected direction from the Green Bay Diocese on any special Masses or prayers to be scheduled for the late pontiff.
“We, of course, are in the beginning of the Easter Octave, so I’m not sure how that is handled with the planning of the Holy Father’s funeral,” Looney said.
The Easter Octave is a period of eight days, beginning with Easter Sunday and ending on the following Sunday (Divine Mercy Sunday), which are celebrated as solemnities of the Lord. Each day of the octave is treated as a mini-Easter, with special readings and prayers focused on the Resurrection of Christ.
“The church will enter a nine-day period of mourning,” Looney said April 21. “Pope Francis made some modifications for the funeral of a pope, but he will lie in state.”
Looney said many friends of his were due to travel to Rome for the April 27 canonization of Carlo Acutis, a British-born Italian teenager, who would become the first millennial saint.
However, that canonization has since been postponed, according to the Vatican.
“Now, many will still travel to Rome but to pay respects to Pope Francis,” he said.
Following the funeral of the pope, the church’s cardinals will gather for a conclave to select the new leader of the Catholic church.
“There will be a week or so of meetings beforehand when the cardinals will discuss issues and concerns before the conclave begins,” Looney said.
To select the next pope, the cardinals will vote in secret four times each day until a candidate gets the necessary two-thirds majority.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
Catholics prepare for new pope
