‘ A life without love is not a life at all’: Pope Francis remembered at Requiem Mass

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Following the death of Pope Francis, the Diocese of Covington concluded a trio of services commemorating the deceased pontiff with a Requiem Mass, April 26, held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington.

A Requiem, known also as a Mass for the dead, is a special service in the Catholic Church offered for the repose of the souls of the deceased and is typically held in the context of a funeral.

The Requiem Mass was celebrated by Bishop John Iffert alongside many of the priests of the diocese, Bishop Emeritus Roger Foys was the homilist.

“Do not grieve like those who have no hope,” Bishop Foys quoted St. Paul, continuing to say that that greeting is often misunderstood. “People say that Paul is telling us we shouldn’t grieve,” he said, “He’s not. We grieve because we love. If we never love we never grieve, but a life without love is not a life at all.”

Instead, Bishop Foys stressed the words that St. Paul said: not to grieve like those who have no hope, and he reminded the congregation gathered that Easter Sunday, celebrated a week prior “is our hope.”

“So, we grieve, yes,” he said, “We grieve the loss of someone we love. We grieve the loss of someone who is dear to us … the difference is we have hope.”

Before his death, Pope Francis declared 2025 as a Jubilee year, with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” which Bishop Foys said was “especially important.”

“It sometimes seems to be a hopeless world,” he said, “… you might feel hopeless. In those times, you cling to the hope of Lord Jesus.”