HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Pope Francis was the first Latino pontiff, and on Monday, Latinos all over the world and in northeastern Pennsylvania are reacting to his life and impact on the catholic church.
The Hazleton area has one of the largest Latino communities in the region.
Hearts are heavy in Hazleton.
28/22 News was at the Annunciation Parish of the church of Saint Gabriel on the city's southside.
This is one of three churches in Hazleton that have Spanish-language masses.
For many of the folks there, Pope Francis is their hero.
Parishioners came to Annunciation Parish at the church of Saint Gabriel in Hazleton for Easter Monday Mass at 12:00 p.m. on Monday to pray and remember Pope Francis.
They say they are thankful that they had him as their Pope.
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"He was really the best Pope. We have really because he show us how we practice our religion. How we can be a friend, a brother, a sister working in union?" Hazleton resident Martha Rojas said.
"Just mainly pray for him, you know. Thank God for his life and dedication to the church and for teaching so many of us in the world about Christ," said Nicole Tranguch from Hazleton.
The Latino faithful turned out in mass for the Good Friday procession, The Living Stations of the Cross. The crowd was estimated to be around 1,000 people.
Father Kevin Miller is the Pastor of Annunciation Parish at the Church of Saint Gabriel.
" Pope Francis was definitely a great Pastor. He was a Shepherd," Father Miller stated.
Amilcar Arroyo is the editor of the Spanish-language El Mensajero magazine in Hazleton.
"Again, the Latinos identified with Pope Francis. I think it's very sad moment for Latino population in Hazleton, in Hazleton who follow the rules of the Catholic or Christianity, of course," Arroyo explained.
Many folks say they lost a family member.
