Photo by Niamh Coomey St. Joseph Cathedral in Wheeling quickly pulled together an evening mass for the late Pope.

WHEELING — The Catholic community of Wheeling gathered to honor the late Pope Francis Monday evening with a memorial mass at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died of a stroke that led to heart failure at age 88 early Monday, just a day after Catholics celebrate Easter and a public appearance from Francis. The Cathedral rang their bell 88 times on Monday in honor of Francis.

Monday night’s ceremony was arranged with short notice as it was a priority to the Most Rev. Mark Brennan, Bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese, to honor the late pope the same day of his death. However several dozen people still lined the cathedral’s pews.

Brennan spoke midway through the service, expressing gratitude for all that Francis did to serve the Catholic faith.

“Pope Francis not only preached the [words] of Christ but taught us by example to stand up for the truth when it is being denied and to stand for [those] who are being oppressed, the marginalized, migrants, children,” Brennan said.

He applauded Francis for his grace, discernment, inspiration, peacefulness, kindness and ability to lead by example. He also emphasized Francis’ ability to find strength and joy amid fear.

“On the last day of his life, he was clearly suffering but he mustered up the strength to appear before the people one last time and to show hospitality to our American vice president,” Brennan said.

Attendees of the service described it as “very nice,” “lovely” and “well pulled together on such short notice.” Some expressed shock at the sudden passing of the pope after he appeared on TV for an Easter address just a day prior.

“I’m a little shaken, I guess is the word I would use,” said churchgoer Craig Haas, who attended Monday’s service. “I sat there for an hour in shock.”

Another attendee of the service, Kathy Lantz, said it was jarring to see the news of the Pope’s passing just after she watched him speak to his followers on Easter.

“We saw him yesterday on TV give a little bit of a service for Easter and we woke up today and we were like ‘oh my goodness,'” Lantz said.

Haas said he thought Francis’ inclusive outlook and frequent attention to modern issues was something special that the late Pope brought to the table.

“I feel like he really stood up for current things. Someone has to stand up for us, no matter who you are. He seemed to feel like everybody was one,” Haas said. “That’s how we ought to look at it.”

Francis was known for his progressive outlook, acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals and for carrying the Catholic Church through the COVID-19 pandemic and economic strife.

Haas said during this period of mourning, he was thinking about individuals who push through a special event or holiday to be there for the people that need them and then pass shortly after, like Francis passing just after Easter.

“I’ve read many times, mainly mothers, they’ll push through the holiday or a birthday or a son’s child birth and they’ll die after that,” he said. “That was one thing going through my head today.”

The church will now continue the official nine-day mourning process before the College of Cardinals and other Catholic leaders in Rome elect the next Pope.

“We pray that we get another good Pope next,” Lantz said.