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A changing Catholic church.

We talk with the bishop of the Davenport Catholic Diocese regarding the legacy of Pope Francis and what could lie ahead for Catholics in the cities.

We'll.

Pope Francis has died the way he lived.

Modest, unassuming and precedent breaking.

He was buried outside the Vatican last weekend, entombed at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, said to be his favorite church.

While Pope.

Now Francis, led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, including almost a half million in Iowa.

Bishop Denis Walsh, head of the Diocese of Davenport since 2024, joined us to talk about the legacy of Pope Francis.

The Pope is known for living a life of humility and service.

Is that the way you see it?

I think he was a very simple man.

A very humble man.

I think that's what people found very appealing in him is his authenticity, his simplicity, his, just, very approachable, aspect of his personality who just draws people to himself.

And you kind of forget that he became pope during a very interesting time.

I mean, when was the last time there were two living popes, basically?

Yeah, it was it was, I'm sure it was a challenge for for both.

But, you know, Pope Benedict was a very humble man himself.

Pope Benedict sort of compared himself to a pack mule, kind of doing the Lord's work.

And, the Lord has made him a pack mule.

He uses that image quite a bit.

So I think Benedict was very happy to step back and, he didn't really, I mean, he spent his time in his residence at the Vatican, and we didn't really hear much of him.

So that probably made it easier for, for for Pope Francis.

He did it in a very dignified way.

He did?

Yes.

In so many ways.

He taught how to do this.

Correct.

If it ever happens in the future.

Correct.

Yeah.

It's, there was a question is whether Francis in his illness would retire.

Francis was inclined to work, I think until until the end.

I think he, had a lot of things that he wanted to accomplish yet, I was surprised that after his stay in the hospital, that he went right back to work, you know, so quickly.

Yeah.

You take a look at the transformative popes in our lifetime.

And you look at Francis and his roots in Latin America, which was was so such a rejoice, I would think, for so many of the, Catholics in.

Well, I mean, one of the biggest populations of Catholics, of course, is in Brazil, but but in that area, a geographically that he was an inspiration.

He was but he, he was bishop of Buenos Aires in a very difficult time.

It was a military dictatorship.

There were people disappearing, people who were who were murdered, people in opposition to the government.

And I think that really shaped Francis's whole vision, of ministry is closeness to the people.

I it probably has shaped him in terms of how he saw the papacy, in terms of what he wanted to accomplish, aligning himself with the poor, the abandoned, those suffering, those persecuted.

Let me take you back to the the funeral, from this past weekend.

What was your take away from that?

You know, I always like the pageantry of Vatican liturgies.

I, I had a I had a friend, priest, friend who was at the funeral.

It just, really, I think it was a time of rejoicing, a time of gratitude for for his people.

Ministry as people see, seeing all the world leaders there, Catholic, non-Catholic, non-Christians, sometimes, so church leaders from other faiths, other other religions, and, it's just a remarkable witness, I think, to the authenticity of the man.

And the respect that world leaders had for him.

And also the amazing choice by him, not to be buried in the Vatican, but instead picking his favorite church.

Correct.

A he, I've been to Rome a number of times.

I've been to Mary.

Major is beautiful.

Beautiful.

Toluca.

I wasn't aware, how special the place was for him.

My last trip to Rome.

We were going to visit Mary Meijer's.

And it was closed because the Pope was there.

So I think I have read where he had visited that church 130 times, in his papacy, whenever he would take a trip, overseas, he would always stop at the basilica, paying homage to the icon, as, as he would visit the church.

So he would always bring in roses.

So it was great during the funeral, before they bring the body.

And they said Francis always brought white roses, to, to to the church.

The two children carry baskets of roses, and put them at the, at the feet of the icon where he was going to be buried.

Like you said, it's the visual illness, and the tradition of the funeral that that, and that's what Catholic Church is so well known for is the traditions of, of in so many different ways.

I was just going to say in the funeral procession, but everything else associated with the funeral and even the selection of the Pope, which I would like to talk about more.

But but let's talk about the actual, funeral.

You said that the pageantry and the world leaders really stuck out.

Was there a message that you think that was repeated throughout that that really underlined, Francis's, impact on the world?

Cardinal Ray, who was the celebrant of the mass?

He was the he's the dean of the college of Cardinals.

And he was he's responsible for the being the celebrant and also the humblest, I think his homily went through all the things that Francis was able to accomplish.

I mean, Francis did a lot in terms of reforming the church, reforming the Curia, reforming the government, governance of the church, opening, the church to, to to women.

He was the first one that appointed, as president of the Vatican City State as a woman.

Sister Raphaela, you pointed out religious nun as, as the head of one of the de Castries.

All of those things were unheard of prior to Francis.

But, just the small ways in which he opened the church, to the wider world, that was probably the theme that was so important for Francis was to open the church to the world, rather than an institution that's kind of turned in on itself.

That was very important to him.

As for the church to go out to the world, and to to meet the world on its terms and, to, to be a presence and a witness to the world?

Well, and when you talk about the world, there's two other major initiatives of, Pope Francis, one having to do with the environment, the other one, of course, having to do with migrants.

Let's talk about the the environment.

I mean, when you look at what's going on in America right now, the pope would be left of, of of the the latest political opinions.

I, I don't know that the church thinks in those terms, Pope Benedict said it very beautifully that in America we are so obsessed with ideology, that it consumes us.

For the most part, I don't, although there would be people who identify themselves as as progressive or conservative, it doesn't have the overriding, the sense that it does in American politics.

So I think what Francis did for the environment, more than anything else, is that he made the issue mainstream in terms of, of of Catholic thought, that there's always been a, a string within, a theme within Catholicism that we are responsible for stewardship, for the environment.

But Francis takes it further in terms of, talking about it in terms of climate change, that we have a responsibility to care for our common home.

And that's part of our obligation as, as part of God's creation is to exercise stewardship and care for for our common home.

The name he chooses for his papacy is Francis.

Saint Francis himself was, known for his care for creation.

So, it's part, I it sounds like it was part of, his thought process, his view of life from the very beginning of his papacy, that this would be part of it.

And the other part, of course, being protection of the migrants.

And when you talk about, you know, migrants, of course, we immediately think of the southern border.

But that huge humanity that left the Middle East, Syria, the war torn countries that ended up in areas of, eastern and Western Europe, I mean, dealing with the dignity of migrants is a worldwide issue, correct?

From a Catholic perspective, we as Catholics believe that, people have a right to migrate, in governments have a right to, to control their borders.

But they can't prevent people from migration.

They they can do it in an orderly way.

And, governments can establish laws, to, to that effect.

And it's part has been part of Catholic teaching, not just with Francis.

And although people identify it with Francis, it's been part of Catholic, teaching since the 1950s.

Pope Pius the 12th was the first one, really, to, to bring the notion of migrants and the importance of migrants, that people have a right to protect their families, to move to other parts of the world, for economic reasons or for the protection of their family.

Tell us where we go from now.

Everybody's watching the movie conclave.

They're they're learning a lot.

I mean, that's spiking.

It's an amazing process once again, that's steeped in history.

You know, I think we as Americans view it from a political perspective, thinking that people are vying for the office.

I don't know that that's true.

I think anyone who's been bishop and all those cardinals are bishops.

They know that the office of bishops is, in a sense, a crown of thorns.

And even more so for the office of papacy.

So the notion that people are vying for the office, I don't think that's really, the way it goes.

Again, we as Americans see everything through an ideological lens.

Is the next pope going to be conservative, is going to be progressive?

I don't know that the church thinks in those terms.

I think they will look at what are the needs of the church.

Where does the church need to go?

And they will pick a candidate based on where the church needs to go.

I don't know that pushing the church in some ideological direction is often is how it's covered in the, mainstream media, is really the process that takes place.

It is an intriguing process.

And I think they have a genuine desire to find the best person, for, for the position.

I think if it were governed by, whether our person's conservative or liberal, we never would have gotten, horny.

Bergoglio.

As the pope, he was not a contender, in anyone's list, before the conclave started.

And most people had never heard of him.

However, that was that was who was chosen and elected as the, as the as the pontiff.

And we see that time and again, where, where people think, oh, this person's a frontrunner.

No.

Yes.

There's a saying to the church that any cardinal that goes on, goes into the conclave thinking he's going to be pope is going to come out as a cardinal.

So, anyone having those sense of aspiration for the position, oftentimes, that is identified as ambition, which is not really viewed favorably in the church, and it isn't rewarded for the most part.

You're saying that perhaps the next pope isn't picked on ideological background.

I totally understand that.

But is it somehow picked geographically or or is age a consideration?

I would say age.

Age is sometimes a consideration.

I think if they want a pope, that is going to be sort of a placeholder for a little bit, right.

So, the church has a clearer sense of where it would like to go that that's possible geographically.

I think that's also something that that may happen.

Pope Francis has done a terrific job of terms of diversifying the College of Cardinals.

Prior to him becoming pope, it was very European heavy.

Francis has made it a point to, find people in Oceania, Asia, Africa, South America more and more, to, to make those that.

So there's a more even distribution throughout the College of Cardinals, of the ethnic background of the, the geographic areas that are represented by the college.

Because, as I was saying, Brazil has the largest Catholic population of any nation, but Africa is the fastest growing ethnic church ever, growing very quickly when when I was in Rome, prior to my ordination as bishop, we had an opportunity to meet all the missionary bishops, most of them Africans and Indians.

And just to hear their story of the growth of the church in Africa, is is remarkable to hear.

It has to be somewhat inspiring.

It is it's, they have a whole different set of problems than what we have in the developed world.

The Africans, they, they deal with, active persecution.

Martyrdom of, there's one bishop who said the other.

I have parishioners who are killed every month, you know, killed for their faith.

And but in the midst of all of that, the church grows, very rapidly in Africa.

You have, talk to your parishioners, in eastern Iowa, since, the Pope died.

What are you hearing from?

From your parishioners?

I mean, is there is there concern is there, a great deal of grief?

Is there appreciation?

I think there's an appreciation for the ministry of the Holy Father.

I think genuinely, he is is well loved.

But by the church, some people may see some of the things he has said as controversial.

However, I think for the most part, Catholics, have great respect for the office of the papacy and have great affection for for the Holy Father.

I think that's where people are.

I haven't heard a lot about, where they want the church to go.

Of course, you hear it on the sort of the margins of the church of those who kind of dwell on the the extreme spectrum of, of ideology, of what they want.

But for the most part, I think the mainstay of the church is very much, open to where the Holy Spirit leads us.

Well, in the days ahead, it is, 252 cardinals, 135 are electors because you have to be under the age of 80, correct?

For rounds a day.

I hate to make it sound like a sporting event, but four rounds a day and two thirds of a vote is needed.

That's why it does take a while.

It does?

And I think the breaks, for four votes a day doesn't sound like quite a lot, but, it does allow a consensus to build among certain candidates.

I think the first day there's one vote, and I think it's just to kind of get a sense of, of where where the conclave is.

And, then after the vote, I think it's in between.

It's I hear it's a time of, consensus building and, there are no speeches or anything.

It's just voting.

But there are plenty of breaks for them to, to to kind of, introduce themselves to each other and to see where everybody is and where they would like to go.

Eventually, a consensus candidate will emerge.

The pope, led 1.4 billion Catholics, but he's also a world leader.

You kind of you can't forget that, Vatican City is a government, on the international stage.

How how do you think the Pope will be remembered on the world stage and among non-Catholics?

I think, the pope, the important voice that the pope has is that he rises above politics and, has a clear call to peace.

I think he has the credibility.

The office of the papal papacy has the credibility, to continually call people to, to achieve some sense of peace.

And in their peaceful relationships with each other and countries.

I think the Holy Father has the the moral credibility, really to to hold people accountable.

To say this is what we're about.

I mean, he said very clearly that the war is the ultimate failure, in our humanity, and that we shouldn't be going down this path.

And, and yet we continue to go down this path.

And, so I think the, the credibility that the Pope offers, is just, a constant reminder about the dignity of life.

The dignity, that we're all called to, the peace that we're all called to, what it means to be part of a common humanity, what it means to be in solidarity with one another.

That's the important voice that we need to hear, which rises above, above politics.

Well, and I apologize for being this late into the interview without saying.

Welcome to the Quad Cities.

You have been bishop in, Davenport for mere months, less than a year right now.

Any first impressions?

Well.

Well, I I've been to Davenport before I ever became bishop.

I've only been to Davenport once.

We might say Clinton, is where I came.

I went to the showboat.

Clinton.

About ten, ten years ago, a family, friends there, son was in a show, on, on the show.

But so I was I went to the showboat up in Clinton for to see it, to see a show, to see him and, in the performance.

But it's a wonderful area.

I, I'm looking forward to getting to know the area.

More and more, we're talking about about 400,000 to 500,000 Catholics are in the state of Iowa.

How do you how do you describe the state of the church?

I mean, the United States has always been somewhat of a secular nation.

No.

Religion sometimes is the top religion among people when they're asked, how do you grow the church?

And do you think that it's in some ways in decline?

I don't know, the church in decline?

I think, the number of people entering the church every year is growing.

However, we have a large contingent of people who are older who are died off.

I mean, the the those who are coming into the faith are, are not as many as those who are died off.

We have those whole baby boomer generation there.

And that's going to be the story for for all institutions, within the, within the country.

But, you know, more and more people, every Easter Vigil, we, we baptize more and more adults, into the faith.

So, I think the best days of the church are ahead of us.

I'm looking forward to to being part of that, of leading the church of Southeast Iowa, into growth.

My priorities as bishop is, I have a great passion for youth ministry.

I've had some success in youth ministry in my previous parishes.

I'm looking forward to, leading young people into a relationship with Christ, and also into a relationship with the church.

And you can see that play out.

The strength of the church would seem to be with the youth of the church, correct?

Yeah.

I mean, it's it's, it's wonderful.

I think once young people begin to see people their own age, peers, who are excited about the faith, I think they go forth and they evangelize their peers more and more.

So, I have had wonderful experiences with young people as a parish priest, in being able to witness, them growing in a relationship with Christ.

And as you said, you do want to visit.

Well, of course you want to visit more of the diocese.

Is that basically your short term goal is to get to know the churches in the parishes and try to get to every period.

So I every weekend I'm in the parishes doing confirmations.

I had, for this this past weekend.

So I go to all parts of the diocese doing confirmations, but that's really the place where I get to know, people spend time with people and, find people in the diocese and just sort of go to their churches, their parishes, and, see what's going on.

So is it important also to get rid of the mystique?

In a way?

I mean, you're the bishop, you come into a church and people probably treat you slightly different.

That's that's taken me quite a while to get used to, and, I think, I, I'm still not used to it, actually.

So the, the for some, for when I meet with confirmation kids prior to confirmation, I just go in and as pastor, they know you as pastor, they.

But as bishop, they're scared to death.

Nobody wants to talk.

And and that that makes it difficult.

So so breaking that barrier is pretty, I would think rewarding for you.

Yeah.

So I mean I usually after confirmation is the reception.

It's just an opportunity for people to see me one on one to have conversations with me and, and let it melt away.

Correct.

I mean, we're very fortunate in the diocese that we still have a Catholic newspaper, the Catholic Messenger.

People read about me quite regularly.

It's it's an introduction point where people will ask me about my dog and everything.

So people seemed to know about my, my, my dog.

They they give me gift baskets for my dog.

But, So how is your dog?

My dog is doing very well.

It's treated better than I do.

But I we appreciate your time.

Thank you.

So thank you very much.

Appreciate it.

Our thanks to Bishop Denis Walsh of the Davenport Catholic Diocese.

May is a time when spring goes into full swing.

It's a time to start enjoying the outdoors after a long winter season.

So here's a couple ideas you might consider if you're looking for fun activities in the area.

Thanks to visit Quad Cities, Check out the things to do this week in the Quad Cities.

Start with watching Heartbreak Hotel, which has over 40 hits from the King of Rock at circa 21 Dinner Playhouse on April 30th.

Next, there will be complimentary golf on the third level of Iron Tee Golf on May 1st from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., then on May 2nd, enjoy Salsa night in the Redstone Room at Common Core.

Then on May 3rd, get ready for the frat House Farmer's Market opening day at 8 a.m.. And then finally there will be a Cinco de Mayo Taco Margarita Fest in downtown East Moline on May 3rd, starting at 11 a.m.. For more events like these.

Visit our events calendar at visit Quad cities.com.

Jonathan Turner is a long time piano player with a master's in music education from Indiana University.

He's been a journalist in the city since 1995.

He's also accompanied a wide range of performers in musicals, individual performances and church services as well.

And Jonathan joined us on the stage of Moline Black Box Theater to perform one of his original.

So here's Jonathan Turner with just a midwest boy.

Just a midwest boy and a Jersey girl.

Alone in New York.

Alone in the world.

Night after night.

The boy and girl wondered if they'd ever find the one.

Would they're hungry.

Hearts be forever born to run.

Nathan, where are you?

Where are you?

Where are you?

Where are you?

Share with me the rest of my life.

Just a midwest boy and a Jersey girl.

One day they met online.

And the feelings on the first.

With the touch of a mouse.

They got together the very next day.

The date she was born on their date she was reborn to stay.

She felt I found you.

I found you, I found you, I found you for the rest of my life.

Just a Jersey girl and a midwest boy.

She gave him her.

Oh, you gotta tell her.

Then one afternoon in June that you guys did this up, though, it was raining out the sunshine Street inside.

He said, I love you.

I love you, I love you, I can love you for the rest of my life.

Now we're so happy to be here on your way, basking in your glow.

And let you know and love you.

We love you.

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And we love you for the rest of our lives.

That's Jonathan Turner with just a midwest boy, performed at Moline Black Box Theater on the air, on the radio, on the web, on your mobile device, and streaming on your computer.

Thanks for taking some time to join us.

As we talk about the issues on the city's I am VCU, we've always been here for you.

You are and always will be our top priority.

We care about your financial health and we are here I am VCU is a proud supporter of Wqpt.

Public affairs programing on Wqpt is brought to you by the Singh Group at Merrill, serving the wealth management needs of clients in the region for over 35 years.