GEORGETOWN, Del. - Pope Francis died Monday morning at age 88 after suffering a stroke that led to a coma and heart failure, according to the Vatican, and across Delmarva, people are remembering him in personal and meaningful ways.
Mike McGlynn says he had a neighbor who was also a priest. The priest went to Rome and came back with the medallion blessed by Pope Francis. McGlynn says he carries it every day for protection.
"Actually, it was my wife. She had MS, and she passed away about eight years ago," McGlynn said. "So, I didn't want to put it in a drawer somewhere, so I figured I'd put [it in] my car where I can have a piece of her and me together."
McGlynn says he learned about the pope’s death from the news Monday morning.
"It's kind of sad to hear that he passed away," he said.
Several people CoastTV News spoke with off camera shared that, even though they aren’t Catholic, they still feel a deep sense of sadness over his passing and recognize the influence he had around the world.
Pope Francis is being remembered as a pope who made history by being the first pope from Latin America, but also, for his commitment to helping those most in need.
"Pope Francis will be known and remembered for urging the church to go out among the peripheries, to go out and seek those who are suffering, those who are ill, those who are poor," said Bob Krebs, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. "Not be closed up in our churches, but to go out among the sheep."
Delaware leaders are also mourning the loss of Pope Francis.
As for the medallion, McGlynn says he now plans to treat it with even more care.
"I may not be so frivolous with it. I'm [going to] make sure I keep it near a more secure area," he said.
The Diocese of Wilmington, which covers all of Delmarva, says some of their churches plan to hold special prayer services, rosaries and Masses in memory of Pope Francis.