Pope Francis Remembered By Delaware Officials And Catholic Diocese

To mark the passing of His Holiness, Governor Meyer ordered all flags on state-owned buildings and facilities to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Photo by Kai Pilger)

Delaware leaders are joining voices around the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis, honoring his decades of spiritual leadership and social advocacy.

To mark the passing of His Holiness, Governor Meyer ordered all flags on state-owned buildings and facilities to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

“Delaware mourns the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis — a revolutionary spiritual leader whose grace, humility, and unwavering compassion transformed lives and inspired hearts across the globe,” Meyer said. “Pope Francis was a champion for the poor, the displaced, the sick, and the forgotten. He spoke truth to power, reminded the world that faith must be rooted in justice, and called on us all to care more deeply for one another.”

“As a leader, Pope Francis built a more compassionate and just world,” he said. “He leaves behind a legacy of hope, humility, and courage — along with a moral compass for future generations.”

Mayor Carney also released a statement, describing Pope Francis as “a truly transformative leader” and “a global moral compass in times of uncertainty and division.”

“Tracey and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Pope Francis, whose humility, compassion, and unwavering dedication to humanity touched millions across the world,” Carney said. “He was not just a religious figure; he was a global moral compass in times of uncertainty and division.”

Carney concluded his remarks by recalling a personal moment during his time in Congress, when he witnessed Pope Francis speak during a 2015 visit to Washington, D.C.

“It was a special privilege for me, during my time as a member of Congress, to hear Pope Francis speak on his visit to Washington D.C. with President Obama,” Carney said. “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity especially for my mother, a devout and practicing Catholic, to witness that historic moment.”

Bishop Koenig of Wilmington, who met the pope during a Vatican audience in 2022, offered reflections on Francis’s vision in a statement, Monday.

“The faithful of the Diocese of Wilmington mourn the passing today of our Holy Father, Pope Francis,” Koenig said. “It is with this sure and certain hope that we entrust our beloved Holy Father into the ‘strong and mighty hand’ of God.”

Bishop Koenig praised Pope Francis for his outreach to the marginalized, including through his 45 global visits, his 2016 Jubilee Year of Mercy, and his teachings on ecology and synodality. He invoked the pope’s own words on Christian hope: “Life is changed, not ended… making it a passage to eternity.”

The Diocese of Wilmington will honor Pope Francis with a special memorial Mass on Monday, April 28 at 12:10 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Wilmington. The Mass will also be livestreamed on the Diocese’s YouTube channel.