Lexington church mourns Pope Francis, reflects on his impact

St. Paul Catholic Church in downtown Lexington sets up memorial following pope's death at 88

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Bells tolled downtown Lexington Monday morning as the local Catholic community joined churches around the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88.

At the Historic Saint Paul Catholic Church, a memorial has been set up in honor of the late pope. Church leaders and members say the loss is being felt both globally and locally.

“I was woken up by a colleague earlier this morning that told me the pope died, so I tried to verify it,” said Stan “JR” Zerkowski, Pastoral Associate and Director of LGBTQ Ministries at the church. “Soon after that I got a message from someone, a friend of mine at the Vatican who in fact did say that the Holy Father had passed on,” said Zerkowski.

A photo of Pope Francis now sits inside the church, to remember the pope not only for his global leadership but for how he changed the way their own church operates.

“He talked about being a synodal church, which means a listening church, and so if nothing else he taught us how to listen to one another,” Zerkowski said. “And by listening to one another we can find our direction for we can understand the needs, because the church is all about ministry,” said Zerkowski.

For Zerkowski, the pope’s influence was also personal.

“Last October I received a handwritten note from the Holy Father,” he said. “It was about the ministry reaching out to LGBTQ persons. The pope affirmed that ministry, the pope affirmed what we are doing here, he affirmed our outreach when it was very, very controversial and it still is,” said Zerkowski.

Church leaders say a special prayers for Pope Francis will be said during Mass throughout the week. The church will also observe the time of mourning prescribed by the Catholic church.