Young Catholics in California reflect on Pope Francis

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - Young Catholics who are mourning the death of Pope Francis say they are looking forward to the announcement of the next pope.

When the news broke about Pope Francis' death, sadness rippled through the Catholic community, but among some young people, it stirred more: Hope for his legacy to live on.

"Something that I hope to see in the next Pope, as we saw with Pope Francis, is this greater acceptance of all people, specifically migrants and the LGBTQ community," said Jackson Mata, a Loyola High School student.

"I think the big thing is Pope Francis really allowed us and showed us how we can live out the Gospels and how we can love thy neighbor and promote a better tomorrow for all people," said Evan Salazar, another Loyola High School student.

For Mata and Salazar, Pope Francis has been the face of the church who embraced the marginalized and called for young people to dream boldly.

In 2023, Salazar had the opportunity to participate in a virtual discussion with the pope at a Telemundo studio in Miami.

"Through his ultimate kind of focus on the poor and the marginalized, I kind of see how my faith can be tied in with my devotion to my community, and my aspirations to go within like the political realm and how I can be a better service to my community...It's kind of intertwined that to do not have to be separated," Salazar expressed.

Now as the church prepares to choose a new leader, they are praying for a pope who will carry the same spirit forward.

"I think that a lot of people are resonating, or did resonate rather with how Pope Francis was seeing the direction of the church. That's why I think a lot of people felt that Pope Francis felt the love that he was spreading because of the selfless actions that he was taking of that emotion of love that he was promoting throughout our world," Salazar shared.

For young Catholics like Mata and Salazar, the future of the Catholic Church depends on it.

"I truly do want to see the church continue to develop with the times and make sure that we are doing the best possible thing for all people on this earth, not just Catholics," Salazar explained.

"I want anybody to hear me being Catholic or hear anyone being Catholic and being like I can approach that person," Mata added.