Hoe Pope Francis’ vision of the church spoke to Black Catholics
Written by Black Hot Fire Network on May 21, 2025
For many Black Catholic communities in the United States, Pope Francis’ life and legacy, as someone who lived out an ethic of “all are welcome,” is “exactly what people living the Black experience in America need,” says Father David Jones, pastor of St. Benedict the African on Chicago’s South Side, who has served in the Archdiocese of Chicago for 36 years.
St. Benedict the African and surrounding Black Catholic communities held masses, holy hours, and adoration for the nine days of prayer for Pope Francis following his death. Jones says he was also touched by how . . .
