California mourns a pope who shares his values

Pope Francis’ death echoed around California on Monday, with his message of tolerance and advocacy for immigration and a stronger resonance in death.

Francis, the first pope from Latin America, was particularly favoured by the Los Angeles area, where he supported the environment, his tolerance for LGBTQ Catholics and the promotion of women in the church cheered him.

Cynthia Cook and her mother Julieta Camacha prayed at the Catholic Church on Monday morning, and the cathedral bell rang.

“I was shocked because I thought he was recovering,” Cook said, watching news reports about the pope's public appearance a few hours before his death.

The two women decided to visit Los Angeles while tribute was held in downtown Los Angeles and returned to Santa Maria.

In this difficult time, unity is important and Francis embodies love for everyone, Cook said.

“As the head of the Catholic Church, he declared immigrants as children of God,” Cook said.

Abby Guerra visited the Los Angeles Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles on Monday.

The parishioner of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in downtown Los Angeles, then the portrait of Pope Francis at 12 p.m.

(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

“He is a great symbol of mercy,” she said. “I think Pope Francis encourages all of us to be kind and to practice this divine mercy.”

Father Peter Salcedo said outside the cathedral that Easter was one of the most important celebrations because it reminded people of Jesus’ conquering death itself.

Salcedo said Pope Francis expressed sympathy for many immigrants from Latin American countries and the reality they encountered.

“I think he has a special place in his heart for that kind of person, not just those who are struggling, but for anyone living on the periphery,” Salsetton said. “He talks very much about what Jesus said, and that’s what you did to Jesus at least.”

Isabel Torres cleans up the church at the Queen of Angels on the riverside after the mass filled with mornings. On Monday, she prayed to God and asked for his guidance, then described how she had overcome her feelings after discovering that Francis had died.

“I’m sad,” Torres said in Spanish. “But at the same time, I thank God for giving us time with Him.”

Torres sees Francis as a reflection of God and is also an example of the way the Catholic community should live through humility.

“I have joined God’s family in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Catholics around the world to sorrow the loss of our Holy Father. ''Archit Jose Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles (Jose H.

(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

“We always try to live through the doctrine He gave us,” Torres said. “Even sinners, our biggest mistake, we always try to be humble.” Mexican natives stressed the importance of Francis's conversation around immigration, and she said she hoped the president would learn from the pope's legacy.

“With the help of Almighty God, I hope the death of the pope will touch the hearts of these presidents,” Torres said. “And, regardless of race or color, they see us as everything, and they understand that we have the right to enter this world.”

On Monday morning, Benediktus Obon said after a mass at the Angel Queen's Church on Monday morning that he hopes the new pope continues the legacy left by Francis.

“He is a peaceful man,” Oden said. “He loves humanity. He embraced everyone and didn't care who you are. We are all creatures of God.”

Obon praised Francis for helping to change the negative narrative of the Catholic Church before taking over as the pope. “His presence in the church brought a lot of good things,” Oden said. “He also brought a lot of people back to the church. It was a huge loss for the community.”

It is important for Aub that the next pope criticized Francis' treatment for Francis until the last day of his life, when he met with Vice President JD Vance.

“First of all, see them as human beings, see them as part of others,” he said.