Grace and peace – from him who is and who was and who is to come.

Today, we share sorrow at the death of our beloved Pope Francis at 7:35 Rome time while celebrating his many gifts and years of service to the Church. Unless the Holy See itself specifies otherwise, the presumption is that the customary prayers and practices observed at the death of a Pope would take place. In the Archdiocese of New York, the following considerations might be helpful:

• His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan has asked for immediate prayers for the deceased Pontiff. The custom of praying the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father is to be encouraged, especially with school children, as is the recitation of the Holy Rosary for the repose of his soul.
• Before Cardinal Dolan departs to join the other cardinals in Rome, he will offer a Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday, April 22 at noon. He has asked that, in every parish on Tuesday, April 22, one Mass be offered for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father.
• It is the custom that the nine days following the funeral of a Pope are observed as official days of mourning in Rome and throughout the Church. During this week of mourning, activities that are not of a religious nature and are non-essential ought to be canceled based on the judgment of the pastor.

I encourage you to look at The Good Newsroom for official archdiocesan statements.