Utah Catholics and religious leaders mourn Pope Francis
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Pope Francis died Monday at the age of 88. Photo: Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Catholics and religious leaders in Salt Lake City are mourning Pope Francis' death.
What they're saying: "We have lost our humble shepherd, but even as we mourn, we remember his remarkable contributions to our church and the world," the Rev. Oscar Solis, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, said in a written statement.
- "His courageous and compassionate leadership has blessed countless lives. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who looked to him for inspiration and counsel," the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wrote.
The big picture: Utah, where the LDS Church is headquartered, is home to one of the smallest shares of Catholics in the country.
By the numbers: About 4% of Utahns identify as Catholic compared with 19% nationally, according to the Pew Research Center. About 50% identify as Latter-day Saints.
- Connecticut (35%) and New Jersey (33%) have the highest shares of Catholics.
What's next: A Memorial Mass of the Dead is planned for Tuesday at 5:15 pm at the Cathedral of the Madeleine (331 E. South Temple) in Salt Lake City.