Around 50 people gathered today for mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Some attended mass here regularly; others were there to pray for the health of the Pope.
One of those praying was Arturo Jacobo, who works as a regional planner. He is worried about what it will mean for the progression of the church’s social values if the pope passes away. Jacobo has seen him as a relatively progressive pope.
“I think, he compared to other popes, has been really, I don’t want to say good because it’s still not good, but a lot better on queer issues, acknowledging that trans people exist and deserve to be alive and have dignity and humanity like the rest of us,” said Jacobo.
One of Jacobo’s worries is that if Pope Francis passes, a more conservative pope may reverse these gains. Other worshippers shared these worries.
“There’s a lot of implications for who may come next, just based on kind of like the current political climate social issues. So I think, in short, people might be a little frazzled and cautiously optimistic for, you know, a possible successor,” said Evan Sensibile.
Kristof Cervantes said it at least feels good to be united as a community in prayer.
“I think when it comes to the Catholic community, that sudden tragedy, things like that, that actually strikes without warning, it does sort of bring a lot of unity within our community,” said Cervantes. “This is something that could just bring us together and sort of pray for his well-being and recovery overall.”
Pope Francis has served as head of the Catholic Church since 2013. He was born in Argentina and is the first-ever pope from Latin America. He’s 88 years old.