Bishop Joseph Strickland, the outspoken Texas cleric removed from his post by Pope Francis last year, responded to the pontiff’s death Monday with a message of prayer and spiritual solidarity, calling on the faithful to remember their role as intercessors for all souls.

Why It Matters

Pope Francis, who led the Roman Catholic Church since 2013, died early Monday in Rome at the age of 88 after complications from double pneumonia and a recent respiratory crisis, according to the Vatican. He was the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit to hold the position.

What To Know

Strickland, a longtime critic of Pope Francis, acknowledged the moment’s significance in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“Pray for the eternal rest of Pope Francis, for the Cardinals who will soon gather in Conclave, and for Christ’s Bride, the Church, to be renewed in the risen Lord,” he wrote. “As we pray our way through this Easter Octave, I encourage everyone to turn especially to the Holy Mass, the Rosary, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.”

Though brief, his message marked a rare moment of public unity with Francis. It followed an earlier post this year in which Strickland expressed support for prayers for the ailing pontiff, writing, “May the Light of the Risen Christ guide us.”

He concluded his post with, “Our prayers should always be for the ultimate salvation of every person”—a line that hinted at reconciliation at the time of the pope’s passing.

Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 to lead the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, Strickland rose to prominence as a firebrand within American Catholicism. In 2018, he endorsed claims made by former Vatican diplomat Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who accused Pope Francis of mishandling allegations against ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, later defrocked for sexual abuse. In a 2020 interview, Strickland called the Vatican’s delay in investigating McCarrick “evil.”

“If I get fired for saying that, for not being politically correct, go ahead and fire me,” he told Catholic radio host Cy Kellett at the time.

Pope Francis eventually removed Strickland in November 2023, following an investigation by the Dicastery for Bishops, which reviewed “all aspects” of his leadership. The Vatican concluded that “the continuation in office of Bishop Strickland was not feasible,” particularly after he refused a request to resign.

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump on Truth Social: “Rest in peace, Pope Francis! May God bless him and all who loved him!”

Former President Barack Obama on X: “Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people — in his humility and in his gestures, at once simple and profound.”

Bishop Michael Fisher said in a statement on Monday: “Pope Francis’ example of humility and simplicity, his constant call to seek peace, and his openness to all will forever remind us of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.”

What Happens Next

A papal conclave typically begins between 15 and 20 days after the death of a pope. That time allows for the funeral rites, a nine-day mourning period known as the novemdiales, and provides time for cardinals worldwide to travel to Vatican City. The outcome will remain uncertain until a pope is chosen behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel, as ideological factions within the Church weigh their options between continuity and a more conservative shift.