"Obviously, our prayers and thoughts are with the Holy Father this morning and thank you, God, for the 26 and-a-half years that he guided the church."
Sunday morning services at Madison's St. Maria Goretti, where Monsignor Burke guides a congregation mourning the death of Pope John Paul the Second.
"It's been so long...guess you just assume he's going to be there all the time for you," says parishioner Ron Rumpf.
But today the pontiff has passed, and many here in Madison and around the worldare coping with the loss of a leader.
"I feel like I'm at a loss. I just feel very lost that he's lost, that he's gone, but he lives on in my heart and my spirit, and I don't think there will be anybody that can replace him," says Joan Dalsanto.
Meanwhile, at Saint Patrick's, Father Bill Seipp says, while each member has their own memories of the Pope, some are universal.
"Every church in the Diocese, every church in the country, and in the world, remembering him for his courage, his faith, and his leadership."
Meanwhile, Mary Gates adds, "I will reflect on, no doubt we will say some prayers for the pope's soul, but, as I said, I believe he went straight to God, so I will reflect on that he's happy now."
At Our Lady Queen of Peace, Bishop Morlino says the pope has seen the sorrowful face of Christ many times, but now he has an opportunity to see the joyful face of Christ. An expression he says the pontiff loved to use.
"That's why he said, 'I'm happy, and I want you to be happy. I know where I'm going, I know how this story ends, and it's a very happy ending.'"
