Cardinal Blase Cupich leads memorial Mass in Chicago for Pope Francis
Faithful share hopes for who could be next pontiff
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Tributes to Pope Francis continued in the Chicago area, including a special Mass Wednesday morning.
Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, led a memorial Mass at Holy Name Cathedral honoring the late pontiff.
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Many are reflecting on how Pope Francis transformed the Catholic Church.
Faithful are remembering him as a champion for immigrants and refugees and a leader who sought to make the Church more welcoming to communities that felt excluded.
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Cardinal Blase Cupich, the leader of more than two million Chicago-area Catholics, was elevated by Francis and will now be among Cardinals who will elect his successor.
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Cupich has a personal relationship with the pope and called him a friend. He said he feels grateful to have lived in a time in which Francis was the Pope.
He believes that we are all fellow pilgrims and that we can learn from one another along the way," Cardinal Cupich said. "That I something that I think is going to be a part of his lasting legacy."
As Pope Francis' life was celebrated at Holy Name Cathedral, Catholics and others have strong opinions on what kind of Pope should replace him.
Cardinal Cupich and 135 other Cardinals worldwide will vote in a conclave to elect the new pope.
"I think it's a shared responsibility," Cupich said.. "It's not in isolation. We all have a part to play and that's why we have to listen to each other."
While names are being mentioned, many who attended the Mass hope Cupich and the college of cardinals will pick someone with similar ideology to Pope Francis.
"I hope that our new pope will follow in the same footsteps, because what the world needs, is exactly what Pope Francis has said," Chicago Catholic Victoria Almeida said. "We need love, and with love comes unity, comes peace."
For many, Pope Francis was a transformational figure, a leader who preached inclusivity.
"We hope that the next pope will fill the Francis' shoes and go beyond, because he was very progressive," Chicago Baptist Brenda McGlohon Mitchell said.
McGlohon Mitchell and Denise Allen are Baptists, and Ferhat Kazkondu is Muslim. They all attended Wednesday's Mass because Pope Francis was welcoming to all.
"I hope our future Pope will be like him, hero of peace love and dialogue," Kazkondu said.
Some Catholics say Pope Francis' modern ideology brought people brought back to the church and that must continue.
"I truly hope we wouldn't go back to a regressive conservative, you know, doctrinator institution, because we have leaped forward," Litzy Kurisinkal said.
But not all Chicago-area Catholics agree, as some say it's time for the Catholic Church to return to its basic family values.
"I think it's really important that we get back to some of those basic kind of values that have gotten lost in our culture, and a Pope who could, could emphasize that would be very helpful," Chicago Catholic Ann Scheidler said.
When it comes to choosing a conservative or progressive Pope, others say they are on the fence. They will leave it up to the Cardinals to make the right choice. The papal conclave is expected to begin between May 6 and 12.
