The lead pastor of Manitowoc’s St. Francis of Assisi Parish is remembering Pope Francis’s legacy.
Although he never met Francis in person, Father Doug LeCaptain remembers much about the Pontiff.
The local priest thought it was huge that Francis was the first pope elected from the Americas, showing that the Catholic Church is looking beyond Europe.
But to LeCaptain, it was the former pope’s way of leading in his role.
He specifically mentioned Francis starting in 2015 with the Year of Mercy.
“Just recognizing need of opening to God’s Mercy, a need for forgiveness, for reconciliation, compassion for all people,” he recalled. “And it was good to have done that at that point and kind of set kind of who he was.”
As part of the Year of Mercy, Father LeCaptain mentioned Pope Francis’s desire to care for the poor.
But he also cared for immigrants and refugees, which is still a worldwide discussion topic.
“You look at, especially as we have two wars going on in our world today,” he noted. “Where do the people flee to, where do they go? And countries won’t welcome them, or who will welcome them. How do you care for them?”
The Manitowoc priest also remembered a document Francis passed regarding global climate change and his comments about the LGBTQ community.
LeCaptain says he feels that, as Francis once said, there should still be respect for the group.
“Cause once we shut off the respect and shut off, we just turn them away,” he explained. “So, we got to be open to what they’re speaking, where are they at and what’s the guidance of the Holy Spirit?”
LeCaptain says the church will have a service to pray for Pope Francis and the Cardinals picking the next pope this Saturday (April 26th) at St. Francis of Assisi on Grand at 8:30 am.
Francis passed away on Easter Monday after having a stroke that led to heart failure.
He is currently lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica.
His funeral will also be held this Saturday.
