Catholics all over the world are mourning Pope Francis following his death at the age of 88 on Easter Monday.

Francis was the 266th pope, the first from Argentina, the first from the Jesuit Order, and the first from outside Europe since the eighth century.

Father John Fleckenstein of St. Joseph Catholic Parish in St. Joseph tells us Francis made it clear from the very start of his papacy what sort of pope he would be by naming himself after Francis of Assisi. He says that all indicated an emphasis on humility and compassion.

“He really is a reflection of something that really was emphasized more in terms of the humility, the mercy,” Fleckensein said. “Not that others didn’t before, but I think that was something that was not new to people, but it was something to make people think a little harder on that maybe they haven’t for some time.”

Fleckenstein says Pope Francis always reminded people of those principles.

Meanwhile, Chad Roden is the middle school theology teacher at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School in St. Joseph. He tells us Francis will leave behind a beautiful legacy of love and compassion. He says Francis got out into the margins, visiting people and serving as a pope of the people. He says this has inspired his students.

“So I think the kids really do pick up on that, and especially as they see his witness, get that inspiration from him to go out and to do something and not just sit and say, ‘You know, I believe here, and that’s good enough,’ but to live that out in a concrete way.”

With the example of Francis in mind, Roden says his students have been moved to write letters to prisoners and conduct food drives. He adds Francis was a very human pope as he remembers the pope laughing at himself when he couldn’t figure out if his microphone was on during an address in Rome that Roden attended.

Father Fleckenstein says after the appropriate mourning period, the election of a new pope will be held. He says that’s always an exciting time because the decision made by the cardinals indicates what direction they want the church to take.