More than a billion Catholics worldwide are mourning the April 21 death of Pope Francis. And it has many in Oregon and across the world wondering which direction the church will go, once a new pope is elected.
Archbishop of Portland Alexander Sample, whose jurisdiction encompasses all of western Oregon, is one of those wondering.
In his first interview with local media following Francis’ death, Sample spoke on the legacy of Pope Francis and the moment the church finds itself in with the election of his successor.
Undated supplied photo of Archbishop of Portland Alexander Sample meeting Pope Francis, who died on April 21, 2025.
Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Portland
Sample remembered meeting Pope Francis with other U.S. bishops, one of a handful of times the two of them met.
During their roundtable discussion, he remembers people being able to freely leave the meeting, get water and return. Sample said being able to act comfortably in front of such an important religious figure spoke to the late pope’s character.
“That’s the kind of atmosphere he created around himself, where you would actually feel comfortable doing that, because there was no pretense in him,” Sample said. “He didn’t put on any kind of front.”
He said that Catholics felt a profound connection with the pope and that the faithful paid great attention to what Pope Francis had to say.
“They naturally love him, even if they disagree with him,” he said. “There were plenty of people who disagreed with Pope Francis … but underneath that, you love the Holy Father because he’s your father.”
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At a Requiem Mass held at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Tuesday, Sample said he would try to uphold the legacy of Pope Francis by reaching out to those on the margins. When asked whom that included, Sample said he didn’t want to single out certain groups, but that he thought of those who “feel alienated from God.”
Pope Francis was known for reaching out LGBTQ+ people, the divorced and migrants, among others. He often clashed with traditionalists in the church and was seen as a force of change.
Sample said he believes many in the College of Cardinals, who will elect the next pope, will “want clarity” on a variety of moral issues facing the church, and on Pope Francis’ changes to Vatican bureaucracy.
“I think that’s the challenge for the church right now and I think it’s a challenge for the next Holy Father,” Sample said. “How do we pastorally love and welcome all of God’s children without compromising the teachings of the gospel?”
Undated supplied photo of Archbishop of Portland Alexander Sample. He said he believes many in the College of Cardinals, who will elect the next pope, will “want clarity” on a variety of moral issues facing the church.
Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Portland
Sample has been known for taking conservative stands in the church, especially in regards to the LGBTQ+ community. In 2023, he came under fire for issuing guidance to local Catholic schools that, among other things, advised school staff that “pronouns should accord with biological sex.”
It’s not a position shared by all parishes in Oregon. Rev. David Zegar, the priest for St. Andrew Catholic Church in Portland, said he believes his church is the kind that Pope Francis would’ve supported. The church has been outspoken in its support of LGBTQ+ Catholics and the migrant community.
“In his pastoral ministry, he listened to the people and respected what they had to say,” Zegar said of Pope Francis. “He was hearing God speaking through their lives.”
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Zegar said he’s concerned about the potential election of a more conservative and traditional pope — and that the steps Pope Francis took toward change could be erased.
“I think if we go backwards, we’ll lose a lot of people in the church,” Zegar said. “If we go forward, they’re willing to stay on, especially women and people from LGBT community, other communities who are struggling with the church at this time.”
Sample and Zegar both said the next election of the pope comes during a critical time for the Catholic Church — and its next leader’s decisions could be potentially momentous.
No matter what, Sample said he trusts in the process.
“I think the church needs a spiritual renewal and that starts with individuals,” Sample said. “I hope that the next Holy Father will set a profound example of holiness and challenge us, and especially us who are leaders in the church.”
