Austin Catholic community mourns death of Pope Francis

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The news of Pope Francis' passing is widespread Monday morning. Argentine-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as Pope in 2013.

Many Catholic schools and church offices were already closed for Easter Monday and had previously planned mass services throughout the day.

Father James Misko, who is serving as Diocesan Administrator in Austin, will be celebrating noon mass at Saint Mary Catholic Cathedral "for the repose of the soul of the holy father." Saint Mary, located in downtown Austin off 10th Street, is the mother church for the Diocese of Austin.

The Diocese of Austin is currently without a Bishop, as of March 25. Its former Bishop, Joe Vasquez, is now the Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. Since the Pope appoints new Bishops to a diocese, Vasquez's replacement in Austin will be prolonged until the new Pope is appointed.

The Diocese of Austin said there are more than 700,000 Catholics in the Central Texas area. The diocese covers a wide area from Bell County to San Marcos and College Station.

The diocese posted on Facebook early Monday in remembrance of Pope Francis.

"Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013. Today, we mourn his passing," the post said. "Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen."

In 2022, the Pope blessed the Diocese of Austin for its 75th anniversary.

This story will be updated. Check back for more.