Black and purple bunting, a sign of mourning, hung on the front doors of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan Monday.

Like Catholics and non-Catholics across the world, parishioners at the Midtown cathedral are mourning the death of Pope Francis.

What You Need To Know

  • Black and purple bunting, a sign of mourning, hung on the front doors of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan Monday

  • Like Catholics and non-Catholics across the world, parishioners at St. Patrick’s Cathedral are mourning the death of Pope Francis

  • Cardinal Timothy Dolan will now be part of the order of cardinals who vote to election the next pope after Francis’ death

“Having an opportunity to come down here and pay respects is nice,” Kevin Dorsey said.

“I’m very sad actually,” Bert Vaccari said. “He was a good man.”

“When I heard about it this morning, I came all the way from the Bronx to light a candle for him,” Cari Sami added.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan led a mass at 7 a.m., where he spoke about the pope’s qualities.  

“There was a humility and sense of humor there from the beginning. Those were gifts that he had,” Dolan said. “He would be the first to admit when you think of the towering intellect of [Popes] John Paul II and Benedict XVI of the perhaps abundant gifts that God had given him were evident elsewhere... in his simplicity in his humility, his easygoingness. These were gifts that he stewarded so well.”

Dolan is set to head to Rome as part of a previously scheduled trip for the 2025 Jubilee.

However, Dolan will now be part of the order of cardinals who vote to election the next pope after Francis’ death.

Some Catholics say they hope the next pope shares Francis’ ideals.

“Maybe someone young who can keep the seat for a long time and continue to grow those ideas and just continue pushing the church forward,” Kelsey Dorsey said.

During his 12-year papacy, Francis established himself as a humanitarian who often weighed in on controversial topics and human tragedies.

He was also known for championing progressive causes such as economic justice, environmental awareness and LGBTQ rights.

“His position on gay and lesbians in the church, I thought, was very important for him to show compassion and understanding for a broad spectrum of humanity,” Vaccari said.

Robert Grant volunteers at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and met Francis during his visit to the church.

“I had the honor of meeting him,” Grant said. “And I gave him some St. Patrick’s Cathedral Mass cards.”

“And I think he was moved by that, because three weeks later, I got a beautiful thank you letter from him,” he added.