Mid-South officials react to the death of Pope Francis

WATN-TV Memphis

Mid-South officials react to the death of Pope Francis

Staff Report

Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church died on the morning of April 21, 2025, the Vatican announced.

Leaders across the Mid-South have offered statements paying tribute to and honoring the legacy of the Catholic Church's first Latin American pontiff, whose papacy began in 2013.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young took to social media to offer solidarity with those who mourned the death of Pope Francis around the world.

Mayor Young's statement can be found below:

My statement on the passing of Pope Francis. - Paul Young (@mayorpaulyoung) April 21, 2025

In a Facebook post, Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn offered a statement of mourning as well, which read:

"Today, we mourn the loss of Pope Francis and honor his years of service and leadership. Praying for the Catholic Church during this transition and for Catholics around the world."

Congressman Steve Cohen from Tennessee's 9th district paid tribute to the late Pope in an X post, in which he referred to Pope Francis as a "moral leader who challenged the powerful and lifted up the poor."

Pope Francis was a moral leader who challenged the powerful and lifted up the poor. When he spoke to Congress in 2015, I was struck by his call for compassion, justice, and stewardship. His legacy will live on in that message-it's needed now more than ever. May he rest in peace. - Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) April 21, 2025

Fellow U.S. Representative from Tennessee's 8th District, David Kustoff, offered the following statement on the Pope's passing:

Roberta and I join those in Tennessee and around the world in mourning the loss of Pope Francis. He was a beacon of hope for many in search of compassion and peace. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Catholic community during this time. - Rep. David Kustoff (@RepDavidKustoff) April 21, 2025

U.S. Senator from Mississippi, Cindy Hyde-Smith, expressed her condolences, saying that Francis's "life of faith and service touched hearts across the globe," in the following statement:

Deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis. His life of faith and service touched hearts across the globe-including so many here in Mississippi. May he rest in eternal peace.

Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.

Francis' death is a blow to an estimated 1.375 billion Catholics across the globe, including around 52 million in the U.S.