Sitting in our modest Lutheran Church in Huron, South Dakota — which had no Virgin Mary statues, saints or even bright colors — I leaned toward my mother and whispered, “Mom, what does the word ...

Re “Pope Francis Is Dead at 88” (nytimes.com, April 21): As I woke up to the news of Pope Francis’ death, I was shocked — and surprised by streaming tears. The pope himself said that the words that ...