'The wrong people are dying. Look at Trump and Putin': Kerry parishioners react to death of Pope Francis

Bernadette Daly attended Mass dedicated to the Pontiff at the Holy Cross Priory in Tralee town: 'I was shocked. May he rest in peace.'  Pictures: Neil Michael

Parishioners in Kerry have expressed their shock and sadness at Pope Francis’ death, with one going as far as saying “the wrong people are dying”.

Bernadette Daly, who attended Mass dedicated to the Pontiff at the Holy Cross Priory in Tralee town, said: “I was shocked. May he rest in peace.

“Although Rome is on my list, I haven’t been yet. One thing I am sad about is the unknown. We don't know what is going to come next.

“This is especially worrying in a world of such uncertainty. He was very inviting of all denominations and outsiders and this will be missed.

“I wonder if the next person will be as progressive.” 

Kieran Moriarty: 'I never met him but he was a lovely man and I am very sorry to hear he is dead.'

Former teacher Kieran Moriarty said: “I never met him but he was a lovely man and I am very sorry to hear he is dead.

“The wrong people are dying. Look at Trump and Putin.” 

Michael Kennedy said on his way out of Mass at the church with his family: “His death is shocking. He was a great man but to be honest, he was controversial, and he stood up for his values. Hopefully, the next guy will be just as good.” 

Maura Harcksen: 'I saw his blessing yesterday, and nothing indicated he was so bad.'

Maura Harcksen said: “It is a terrible shock altogether.

“I watched him on the television the other day and I was planning to go to Rome next year in the hope of seeing him.

“I prayed a decade of the Rosary for him every night after he fell ill.” 

Ukrainian Jurij Blazejewski, who saw the Pope twice when he visited Rome a few years ago, said he was shocked.

“I knew he was not in the finest condition, but I saw his blessing yesterday, and nothing indicated he was so bad.” 

Fr David McGovern opened the Mass by expressing his “sadness” at the death of the pope, to whom he offered the 1pm service “for the repose of his soul” and “thanksgiving for his papacy”.

In an address to about 100 parishioners attending Mass, he referred to the “pope of my generation”.

He said: “For many of us, we will remember him fondly for all that he achieved and his outreach to the poor and those on the margins.

We can certainly call him a controversial pope. He wasn’t afraid to speak his mind.

Fr McGovern met him about eight years ago, when he was studying in Rome.

“On meeting me, he asked where I was from and I told him I was from Ireland and he asked what I was doing in Rome and I said I was studying,” he told parishioners.

“He said ‘as soon as you have finished your studies, make sure you go back to [Ireland], there are enough priests hanging around Italy doing nothing. I’m sure priests are needed in [Ireland]'.

“Francis was not afraid to speak out on the poor, the teachings of the Church and he will be remembered in that vein.” He also urged parishioners to pray for the cardinals who will now vote for the election of a new pope.

“At the moment, we have no pope,” he said.

“We have no leader of the Church.”