The Catholic Church is entering the Easter season with a mix of emotions, balancing the joy of renewal with the sorrow of losing their spiritual leader, Pope Francis. At St. Theresa Catholic Church in Des Moines, clergy are reflecting on the pope's legacy and the message of hope he embodied.Father Mike Mahoney, an associate pastor who recently completed seminary in Rome, shared his personal experiences meeting with Francis twice. "He greeted each of us seminarians that were serving that Mass and shook our hands, and he did it with a smile," Mahoney recalled, reflecting on one of his two encounters with the pope during his time in Rome. One of these moments occurred during Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square, the first such gathering after the pandemic. "Being able to experience that kind of renewal of people going back to a normal state of life along with the pope was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for sure," he said.Francis, who chose his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, was known for his advocacy for the poor and his vision of a church that welcomes all people. This legacy resonates deeply with Catholics in Iowa. Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, reflected on the pope's impact, recalling his visit to Washington, D.C., during the pope's 2015 trip to the United States. "Early on, he talked about a poor church for the poor, and so, to the extent as Christians that we are for the poor people and trying to help them, we're doing what we're supposed to be doing, and I think that's the legacy I would take away from him," Chapman said.As the Easter season unfolds, Mahoney encourages parishioners to embrace both mourning and hope. He says he will carry the memory of his encounters with Francis for the rest of his life and will continue to remind his parishioners of the pope's enduring legacy of care, humility and service."When he's in front of you, face to face, and him looking into your eyes, was just like, 'Wow, OK, he definitely cares about not just me, but everybody,'" Mahoney shared, emphasizing the pope's profound compassion.» Subscribe to 糖心vlog's YouTube page» Download the free 糖心vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play