Hundreds attend a Mass for Pope Francis at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland

As the body of Pope Francis lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, the Catholic faithful in Maine gathered at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland to pray for the repose of the pope's soul and to express their gratitude for his service to the Church.

“I wanted to be here in solidarity with the Church of Christ. I wanted to thank God for the ministry of Pope Francis, for his gentle soul, his generosity, all that he has led us to see and to follow him into the service of the poor, the imprisoned,” said Val Flanagan, a member of All Saints Parish in Brunswick. "Pope Francis was a man of peace and love and gentleness and generosity. And he just really led us as a Church to unite under the truth of Christ.”

“I wanted to participate with the Church, together with the Church, to celebrate his life. He was a great person,” said Oremus Butera, a cathedral parishioner. “Pope Francis was a humble person, a very humble person. He showed us the signs of humility.”

“I loved Pope Francis. He was profoundly influential for me. I remember working here at the cathedral when he became pope, and I read everything that he wrote,” said Michelle Bernier, who currently serves as a lay chaplain at Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland. “I feel like he really formed me as a follower of Christ. He was a beautiful example of a disciple, and he was a great servant leader who was always inspiring to me and always will be.”

The Mass at the cathedral was celebrated on Wednesday, April 23, by Bishop James Ruggieri, who said he thought it was important to gather as a community "to pray together and console each other in the hope of Easter.”

The bishop was joined was 27 priests, who serve in nine of Maine's 16 counties, traveling from as far away as Bar Harbor to be there.

In his homily, the bishop reflected on the 12 years that Pope Francis led the Church, saying “Pope Francis had the joy of the Gospel and did his best to radiate that joy in his pastoral ministry and teaching.”

The pope, the bishop said, had a way of speaking frankly, yet in his writings warned against a cynical or defeatist attitude, saying that while there are times of great suffering, joy always endures.

“My brothers and sisters, Pope Francis inspired and taught us in many ways. However, perhaps the greatest lesson he taught us was what St. Peter, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Paul, and multitudes more knew – the reality that Lent gives way to Easter. We are infinitely loved by God the Father.”

The bishop called it providential that the pope died on Easter Monday and that the Mass at the cathedral was being held during the Octave of Easter, a time when the faithful celebrate the resurrection and the promise of eternal life.

“We remind ourselves of what we preach, what we celebrate in Christ's resurrection. So yes, there's great sadness, but the hope of heaven gives us consolation,” the bishop said.

More than 350 people filled the cathedral for the Mass. Those in attendance included permanent deacons, women religious, and laypeople from area parishes.

“I’m here just to honor and pray for the pope,” said April Bushey, a cathedral parishioner. “I’m really touched by the fact that he died. He passed the day after Easter. I just felt like he was called home, and so I wanted to be here to celebrate that.”

“I'm here today is because we're family,” said Michelle Valcourt, faith formation director at St. John Paul II Parish in Scarborough. “And when someone that we love dies, we should gather as a family.”

"I really wanted to come because I really love and respect Pope Francis," said Katie Delcourt of Good Shepherd Parish in Saco. "I love a lot of the things he's done to help women and help elevate women,"

“It was a pleasure and a privilege to be present today and to pray, not 'to' but 'with' Francis and all the saints because he is one of them today,” said Sister Dale Jarvis, a member of the Sisters of Mercy.  “During this Mass, as we sang, “The Strife is Over,” all I could think of is Francis is able to breathe again, able to breathe...breathe his spirit on the people here gathered today.”

Bishop James Ruggieri will celebrate a second Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis on Wednesday, April 30, at 6 p.m. at the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street in Lewiston. In addition, several parishes are planning Masses or gatherings to pray for the late pope. A list of them can be found here.