Around the world, people are mourning the loss of Pope Francis. His impact is also being felt here in the Silver State.
"I literally just stood, you know, in our bedroom this morning and just had tears rolling down my face," said Marie Baxter, CEO of Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada.
Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg for the Diocese of Reno says he owes a lot to the Pope.
"I was personally very much shocked by it," the bishop said. "I was appointed to Bishop by Pope Francis. I was also then appointed to Reno by Pope Francis, and so I think I have a particular debt of gratitude to him for this ministry and for the confidence he chose in me personally."
When Bishop Mueggenborg met him in Rome, he said he was a very special man.
"He had a sense of humor which was very disarming, and the opportunity I did have to meet him," he said. "He would always poke fun at something or make a nice lighthearted comment, but again it was the expression of his faith, the gentleness of his character, that has left a lasting impression on me."
The bishop says he does not believe the Pope took a trip out here to Nevada.
However, he says that he believes if he came out to the state, he would appreciate the work that has been done.
"I think he would first of all be very grateful and filled with consolation with how we've responded to the immigrant community in our midst," Bishop Mueggenborg said. "The catholic church in northern Nevada is approximately 55 percent Hispanic."
Organizations like Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada are also grieving the loss and want to continue doing the work they believe aligns with the Pope's mission.
"Each Diocese across the country has a Catholic Charities and we are the charitable arm of the various different Dioceses," Baxter said. "So, we're truly blessed and privileged to get to be the boots on the ground. Meet with individuals who are struggling for a variety of different reasons..."
"...he was a huge champion of the work of Catholic charities around the country, as well as the different international organizations that just always see the humanity and the dignity in people and how do we give them the best life experience that we can," she said.
There are two events happening this week for folks who want to mourn the loss.
Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m. there will be a prayer at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Cathedral.
Then Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. there will be a Mass at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.
The bishop says he expects a lot of people to be at the Mass, but they will have overflow seating at the church.
