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April 30, 2025Father Stephen Jones, soon to join Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond as an associate pastor, has spent most of the year in Rome following his ordination to the priesthood last June. He's experienced the death and funeral of Pope Francis and he'll be watching the election of the next pope. Father Jones is also a "reporter on the ground" of sorts for Sooner Catholic, providing stories of these historic days. Here is his first installment.
I was fortunate to meet Pope Francis on a few occasions. The first time as a seminarian was certainly the most memorable.
I introduced myself by saying, “Holy Father, my name is Stephen Jones. I am from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.” He replied by asking rhetorically, “Oh, so you’re a cowboy then?” He also used an imaginary six-shooter to playfully shoot me a time or two. It was a wonderful moment that welcomed me to Rome. He had an amazing and playful sense of humor.
His death was certainly a shock in Rome. I woke up Monday morning and was having coffee in my room when I received a text that he had died earlier that morning. It was a surprise because just the day before he had been in Saint Peter’s square to give the traditional Easter Urbi et Orbi (To the city and to the world) blessing.
Soon afterwards, the bells all began to ring at the churches throughout the city. I am fortunate to minister as a priest to an American university here in Rome that hosts study abroad students every semester (the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota). So, on that same Monday night, I headed out like normal to hear confessions and lead a Holy Hour of prayer with my students.
It was a beautiful moment for us to come together and offer our prayers for the happy repose of the soul of Pope Francis.
The funeral was a momentous occasion to come together as a Church and say farewell to our spiritual father and offer prayers in hope for his eternal rest. Saint Peter’s square and the whole Via della Concilizione leading up to Saint Peter’s was packed with pilgrims who had come to pray for the pope.
I was able to concelebrate the funeral Mass with a number of my classmates, who likewise were fortunate enough to have met the Holy Father on a number of occasions.
As I write this article in the nine-day mourning period for Pope Francis, the eyes of the city have begun to move forward to the beginning of the conclave on May 7. There is a palpable sense of hope that the College of Cardinals will prayerfully choose a worthy successor to Saint Peter as the next pope.
May we also unite our prayers as the Church that they may be open to the movements of the Holy Spirit and choose worthily and wisely!
Fr. Stephen Jones (right) concelebrated the funeral Mass for Pope Francis with classmates on April 26 in St. Peter’s square. Photos provided.