Elementary school students from New York Catholic schools gathered on Friday, May 2, to remember Pope Francis during a special Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

The Mass came during the mourning period for the Pope, who died on April 21. That mourning period concluded on Sunday, May 4.

Regional Superintendent of Manhattan Schools in the Archdiocese of New York, Anthony Biscione, welcomed the teachers, administrators, school staff members, parents, and students from eight participating schools who attended the Mass.

“Today we gather for a special Mass to remember Pope Francis and honor him for the profound effect and the impact he had on the Church and on our world. Throughout his life, Pope Francis consistently emphasized the messages of mercy, service, and care for creation. His teachings are relevant to all of us, but particularly to students and young adults. Pope Francis guided us to act with compassion and responsibility in our own communities and beyond,” Biscione said.

In his homily, celebrant Monsignor Joseph LaMorte, vicar general for the Archdiocese of New York, recalled a time earlier in his 44-year career when he served as a teacher. “I miss the young Catholic people, our young students,” he said.

Monsignor LaMorte took time to explain that the Church was observing nine days of mourning Pope Francis. He also told the students about items being displayed on the St. Patrick’s Cathedral altar to remember the Pope, including his portrait, stoles worn by Pope Francis during his 2015 visit to New York, and the chalice used during his celebration of Mass at Madison Square Garden.

He also explained the process of choosing the next Pope. “The Holy Spirit knows who the next Pope will be. It is up to the cardinals now, through prayer, to figure out who the next will be. It’s pretty neat when you think about the way we believe in the power and the working of God in our lives,” Monsignor LaMorte said.

He referred to the Gospel of John’s account of the miracle of loaves and fishes, “We know how much Pope Francis had great concern for his people. He had concern for the poor, the hungry, and the marginalized, and he did all he could in his papacy to make that concern our concern. When I read the gospel, it occurred to me that he was inspired really by the ministry of Jesus,” Monsignor LaMorte said.

Monsignor LaMorte discussed how this story about Jesus’ work shows how he and the apostles feed both physical and spiritual hunger, and that during May, many Catholics will have their First Communion, the first time they can receive their spiritual food, the Eucharist. “We have to live our lives in imitation of Jesus and of Pope Francis, for sure. Be mindful of the less fortunate, the lonely, the poor, the hungry, and do what we can as young Catholic people to respond to their needs,” he said in conclusion.

At the end of Mass, Linda Dougherty, associate superintendent for Catholic identity and secondary schools at Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of New York, thanked the students for their participation in the day’s Mass, along with their teachers and staff. “You are so reverent and participatory, it is wonderful to have you with us, and I congratulate all of you for memorializing Pope Francis with your prayers this day,” she said.

Dougherty also thanked Monsignor LaMorte and Father Andrew King, master of ceremonies at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, for celebrating and organizing the Mass, respectively.

Following Mass, Monsignor LaMorte guided students on a tour of the area behind the St. Patrick’s Cathedral altar.

Teachers, administrators, staff, and students from the following schools participated in Friday’s Mass: Our Lady of Lourdes School, Our Lady Queen of Angels School, St. Charles Borromeo School, St. Mark the Evangelist School, St. Stephen of Hungary School, St. Joseph School – Yorkville, School of the Blessed Sacrament, and The Epiphany School.