News
Indiana Lowers Flags Statewide as Leaders Mourn the Death of Pope Francis
<p class="" data-start="378" data-end="625">Indiana Governor Mike Braun ordered all flags across the state to be flown at half-staff following the death of Pope Francis, calling it a mark of solemn respect for a global religious figure whose influence reached far beyond the Catholic Church.</p>
<p class="" data-start="627" data-end="775">The order comes just hours after the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis died from a stroke, triggering mourning across continents—and here at home.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="777" data-end="826">Braun reacts swiftly as global mourning begins</h2>
<p class="" data-start="828" data-end="1029">Governor Braun issued the directive early Monday, instructing that all U.S. and state flags be lowered until sunset on the day of the pope’s interment.<br data-start="979" data-end="982" />His message was short but heavy with reverence.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1031" data-end="1215">In a statement, Braun said this was “a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis,” and asked Hoosier residents and businesses to join state offices in lowering flags.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1217" data-end="1377">Braun also echoed tributes made by other national leaders, including former President Donald Trump, who issued a similar flag-lowering order on a federal level.</p>
<p data-start="1217" data-end="1377"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11798" src="https://budgyapp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pope-francis-death-2025-vatican-hoosier-flag-braun.jpg" alt="pope francis death 2025 vatican hoosier flag braun" width="691" height="428" /></p>
<h2 class="" data-start="1379" data-end="1449">From the Vatican to the Midwest: A global figure remembered locally</h2>
<p class="" data-start="1451" data-end="1614">It might seem like Vatican affairs are oceans away from Indiana, but Catholic communities across the state say the impact of Pope Francis was anything but distant.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1616" data-end="1835">Parishes in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and South Bend planned memorial services.<br data-start="1695" data-end="1698" />Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend called the pope’s death “a deep spiritual loss to the Church and the world.”</p>
<p class="" data-start="1837" data-end="2062">Many Hoosiers, both Catholic and not, took to social media to reflect on the pope’s decade-long leadership. He was the first pontiff from Latin America and one of the most publicly visible spiritual leaders in modern history.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2064" data-end="2240">“This man stood for mercy. He tried to bridge divides,” wrote one commenter on a Fort Wayne parish’s Facebook page. “Even if you weren’t Catholic, you could feel his humanity.”</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="2242" data-end="2292">What the flag order means and how long it lasts</h2>
<p class="" data-start="2294" data-end="2392">The order isn’t just symbolic—it follows a longstanding tradition for major international figures.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2394" data-end="2573">When Pope John Paul II passed in 2005, President George W. Bush ordered flags lowered nationwide. Pope Francis receives the same honor, under both state and federal proclamations.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2575" data-end="2635">Braun’s office clarified the details in a follow-up release:</p>
<ul data-start="2637" data-end="2859">
<li class="" data-start="2637" data-end="2726">
<p class="" data-start="2639" data-end="2726">Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of Pope Francis’s funeral</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="2727" data-end="2803">
<p class="" data-start="2729" data-end="2803">Businesses and residents are strongly encouraged to follow the order</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="2804" data-end="2859">
<p class="" data-start="2806" data-end="2859">All state agencies are expected to comply immediately</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="" data-start="2861" data-end="2968">This means schools, city halls, libraries, and even private homes across Indiana will join in this tribute.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="2970" data-end="3020">Hoosier leaders weigh in with personal messages</h2>
<p class="" data-start="3022" data-end="3159">Beyond official statements, reactions poured in from a wide mix of Indiana’s public figures. Some were political, others deeply personal.</p>
<p class="" data-start="3161" data-end="3201">Here’s a look at some notable responses:</p>
<ul data-start="3203" data-end="3547">
<li class="" data-start="3203" data-end="3321">
<p class="" data-start="3205" data-end="3321">Sen. Todd Young: “Pope Francis led with compassion. His death is a reminder of the power of grace and humility.”</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="3322" data-end="3418">
<p class="" data-start="3324" data-end="3418">Rep. André Carson: “A tireless voice for the poor and marginalized. May he rest in peace.”</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="3419" data-end="3547">
<p class="" data-start="3421" data-end="3547">Mayor Joe Hogsett (Indianapolis): “His visit to the U.S. in 2015 left an imprint on many Hoosiers. He was a man of peace.”</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="" data-start="3549" data-end="3663">Even some non-Catholic leaders chimed in, pointing to the pope’s focus on interfaith dialogue and climate justice.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="3665" data-end="3731">A look back: Francis’s decade-long impact in Indiana and beyond</h2>
<p class="" data-start="3733" data-end="3901">While his papacy was based in Rome, Francis’s influence touched many corners of Indiana—from local Catholic charities to university lectures and even interfaith forums.</p>
<p class="" data-start="3903" data-end="4043">Notre Dame University, a hub of Catholic scholarship in South Bend, issued a detailed tribute that praised the pope’s intellect and courage.</p>
<p class="" data-start="4045" data-end="4221">The university had previously welcomed Vatican envoys during Francis’s tenure and held conferences centered on themes he championed—like migration, poverty, and climate action.</p>
<p class="" data-start="4223" data-end="4301">Let’s look at some of the ways Pope Francis&#8217;s leadership resonated in Indiana:</p>
<div class="group pointer-events-none relative flex justify-center *:pointer-events-auto"><button class="hover:bg-token-main-surface-secondary text-token-text-secondary pointer-events-auto rounded-lg px-1 py-1 opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-200 group-focus-within:opacity-100 group-hover:opacity-100"></button></p>
<div class="tableContainer horzScrollShadows relative">
<table class="min-w-full" data-start="4303" data-end="4847">
<thead data-start="4303" data-end="4393">
<tr data-start="4303" data-end="4393">
<th data-start="4303" data-end="4325">Theme</th>
<th data-start="4325" data-end="4393">Local Impact Example</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody data-start="4484" data-end="4847">
<tr data-start="4484" data-end="4574">
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="4484" data-end="4506">Social Justice</td>
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)/3)]" data-start="4506" data-end="4574">Catholic Charities ramped up homelessness outreach</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="4575" data-end="4665">
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="4575" data-end="4597">Environmentalism</td>
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)/3)]" data-start="4597" data-end="4665">Purdue and IU hosted panels on &#8220;Laudato Si&#8217;,&#8221; his climate text</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="4666" data-end="4756">
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="4666" data-end="4688">Immigration</td>
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)/3)]" data-start="4688" data-end="4756">Local dioceses advocated for DACA protections and asylum rights</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="4757" data-end="4847">
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)]" data-start="4757" data-end="4779">Youth Engagement</td>
<td class="max-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)*2/3)] min-w-[calc(var(--thread-content-max-width)/3)]" data-start="4779" data-end="4847">Fort Wayne and Indy dioceses boosted teen faith programs</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<p class="" data-start="4849" data-end="4991">Not every message he shared was universally accepted—especially on social and doctrinal issues—but even his critics acknowledged his boldness.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="4993" data-end="5038">A personal loss for many Indiana Catholics</h2>
<p class="" data-start="5040" data-end="5167">For older Catholics, this moment feels strangely familiar.<br data-start="5098" data-end="5101" />Many remember mourning Pope John Paul II. Some, even Pope Paul VI.</p>
<p class="" data-start="5169" data-end="5271">But for younger Hoosiers, this is the first papal death they&#8217;ve witnessed. It’s stirring deep emotion.</p>
<p class="" data-start="5273" data-end="5407">At a Monday morning Mass in Fort Wayne, silence fell as the priest announced the news. Some cried. Others simply sat in stunned quiet.</p>
<p class="" data-start="5409" data-end="5528">“This isn’t just the head of the Church passing away,” one parishioner told WPTA. “It feels like losing a grandfather.”</p>