Myrtle Beach Pastor Reflects on Pope Francis' Impact Before the Funeral
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — The pastor of a church in Myrtle Beach is paying tribute to Pope Francis and commemorating his legacy ahead of the pontiff’s funeral service scheduled for Saturday morning.
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis passed away on Monday due to a stroke, which led to a coma followed by heart failure. He was 88 years old.
On Friday, as countless mourners gathered in Rome to pay their respects, Reverend Roger Morgan from St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach reflected on how Pope Francis distinguished himself from his predecessors as pope.
"His ministry’s impact is evident from how highly respected and beloved he is among numerous individuals who came forward to bid him farewell and show their reverence," stated Father Roger.
Pope Francis showed support for various marginalized communities, such as the LGBTQ+ group.
Father Roger expresses his hope that Pope Francis' perspectives will initiate a journey toward acceptance.
We aspire for every person globally to grasp that our purpose in this life within the church is to strive towards sanctity," he stated. "This journey starts when individuals from the church venture forth, extend greetings, and share their companionship. This seems to be the objective the Pope aims to achieve, and I trust it shall yield positive outcomes.
Pope Francis additionally held unconventional opinions regarding women’s positions within the Church.
Even though the pope stated that women remain ineligible for roles as priests or deacons, he has named more women to positions within the Vatican than any of his predecessors did. While this figure may be modest, it marks an important milestone when contrasted with past papacies.
“Many parishes have women serving in crucial positions across various types of leadership roles,” Father Roger stated. “Though not in ordained ministry, these roles remain essential and indispensable for the functioning of the church.”
Throughout numerous centuries and even millenniums, women have held significant positions within the church via their involvement in religious practices," he further stated. "There are countless female saints who exemplify this. It appears that Pope Francis has validated these points.
Father Roger states that even though this is a sorrowful period for individuals globally, we ought to follow the example set by Pope Francis.
Father Roger stated that 'the public presence of the Pope, particularly during his last days amidst illness and pain, as he persisted in living a joyful and devoted life for the Church and remained visible among the people, is an example we should all keep in mind.'
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Skylar Musick serves as a multimedia journalist for News13. Hailing from Long Island, New York, she became part of the News13 crew in June 2024 following her graduation from Villanova University in May 2024. Stay updated with Skylar’s work. X, formerly Twitter, Facebook , or Instagram and explore more of her writings here .
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