Last weekend, congregants entered Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, once vibrant, now reminiscent of attendance during the pandemic. Many parishioners recall a time when the church served a bustling Polish immigrant community. The decline parallels trends across the U.S., influenced by job losses and ongoing abuse scandals. While Pope Francis has sought reform and promoted tolerance, his ambivalence towards certain issues has disappointed some. In Pittsburgh, aging churches face closures as efforts to consolidate parishes emerge. Revitalization efforts at places like St. Stanislaus Church, which has embraced modernization, suggest a potential path forward amidst diminished congregational sizes and shifting views.
Congregants seeking refuge from the winter morning chill gradually made their way into Immaculate Heart of Mary Church for last weekend’s Sunday Mass. There was a time when the grand brick church, which serves as a landmark in Pittsburgh’s Polish Hill neighborhood, would have been filled to capacity with local parishioners.
Mark Dobies and his wife, Kim, reminisce about those days. Their grandfathers were part of the Polish immigrant community that established the church, whose interior is illuminated by stunning stained-glass windows. The couple, residing just two blocks away, exchanged vows beneath the church’s dome, a tradition followed by their parents as well.
“I’ve witnessed its transformation,” Mr. Dobies reflected after the service, which felt reminiscent of a pandemic Mass with significantly more vacant pews than filled ones. “People have moved away from the city.”
The decline of this historic church reflects a broader trend seen nationwide, where ethnic congregations in once-thriving working-class areas diminished following the loss of manufacturing jobs. The church’s long-standing sexual abuse crisis has only intensified the downturn.
Currently, this detachment from the church may also manifest in a general indifference toward Pope Francis, whose health continues to decline. While a few candles may be lit in Pittsburgh for the 88-year-old pontiff, there are no large public vigils or indications of a community in distress.
“I’m praying, but I don’t know much about him,” Carol Novak admitted after a Monday morning Mass at St. Anthony Chapel, a charming church in the Troy Hill neighborhood known for housing more relics than anywhere outside of Rome.
From the beginning of his papacy in 2013, Pope Francis made it clear that he was more amenable to change than his predecessors — the dynamic John Paul II and the intellectual Benedict.
He has advocated for the less fortunate, promoted acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, and encouraged increased involvement of women in the church. However, his efforts have not been robust enough for some who seek significant reforms. To this group, he often appears deliberately ambiguous, in line with the Jesuit tradition that favors raising questions over offering concrete answers.
He notably illustrated this ambiguity when responding to a reporter’s inquiry about the inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in the clergy, stating, “Who am I to judge?”
Recently, however, he has expressed clearer opinions.
Francis condemned President Trump’s immigration policies as cruel in a letter to bishops, chastising Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, for arguing that Americans should prioritize their own before helping others. “Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that gradually extends to different persons and groups,” the pontiff emphasized.
In Pittsburgh, over the last decade, numerous churches have closed or merged, leading to new parishes that demonstrate both a declining number of congregants and a lack of clergy.
Six historic Catholic churches, including Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Anthony, have come together under the label Shrines of Pittsburgh, aiming to utilize their rich history and beautiful architecture to regain prominence. St. Nicholas Church in the Millvale neighborhood features murals by the esteemed Croatian artist Maxo Vanka, whose 1930s artwork highlights the immigrant experience with still-relevant themes such as income inequality.
This revitalization effort appears to be most successful at St. Stanislaus Church in the city’s Strip District, a vibrant area filled with ethnic food vendors that has managed to maintain its character despite rapidly increasing housing costs.
The quaint St. Stanislaus was recently bustling with attendees for two Sunday morning services, where a portrait of Pope Francis, flanked by two lit candles, was displayed near the altar. Later, a cardboard figure of the pope was attached to the church’s front door.
“The portrayal of America as a land where everyone is treated equally is misleading,” stated Liliana Perilla Rojas, originally from Colombia, who recently relocated to Pittsburgh from Florida, where she worked as a dental hygienist. Ms. Perilla entered St. Stanislaus one afternoon to offer a prayer for the Argentine pope, who she noted enjoys far greater admiration in Latin America than in the U.S.
“If the next pope isn’t progressive, we’re finished,” she lamented, concerned that the Catholic church would continue to diminish in influence.
Just a block south of St. Stanislaus, Carlo Dozzi and Joe Sabino Mistick found themselves on opposing ends of a discussion while enjoying coffee at La Prima Espresso Company.
This unlikely duo has been acquainted for years, having crossed paths when Mr. Dozzi, involved in construction, would question Mr. Mistick, a mayoral advisor during the 1990s, regarding city land policy. Both trained for the priesthood in their youth.
Seated at a high-top table, Mr. Dozzi, 82, expressed his respect for the papal office. “And I believe he’s a good man,” he remarked. “However, I disagree with his stance on same-sex marriage.”
Mr. Dozzi sees himself as a traditionalist who prays in Latin. “The church is the center of my life,” he affirmed. “Everything I do revolves around the church.” Yet, he recognizes that this pope’s messages resonate with the younger generation that the church desperately needs. “Youth are drawn to him,” he noted.
Conversely, Mr. Mistick, 75, a professor at Duquesne law school, described himself as a wandering Catholic who maintains a fondness for rituals.
“I admire Francis because he lived his life outside the church and remains relatable,” Mr. Mistick stated, mentioning that the pope has even worked as a bouncer. “None of our leaders command the same respect they once did. But if the pope has a decisive and clear voice, he can lead us and provide moral direction. I see him as a moral compass. He’s the pope for everyone.”