Rev. George F. Pope, C.S.C.

REV. GEORGE F. POPE, C.S.C.

Jul. 17, 1929 - Apr. 22, 2018

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Rev. George F. Pope, C.S.C., 88, died at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind., on April 22.

He was born on July 17, 1929 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. to Dr. Charles E. Pope and Mrs. Julia F. Pope. He attended Holy Cross Grade School, Deerfield, Ill., and Highland Park High School, Highland Park, Ill., before entering Holy Cross Seminary at the University of Notre Dame in 1948. He joined the Holy Cross Fathers there in 1951 and made his First Vows at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Jordan, Minn., on August 16, 1952. He then returned to Moreau Seminary at Notre Dame and graduated from the University in 1954. Following his graduation from Notre Dame, he was sent to Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C., where he completed four years of theology. He was ordained a Holy Cross Priest on June 4, 1958.

Fr. Pope attended the coronation of Pope John XXIII in Rome, and afterwards headed to Dhaka. His first 18 years in Bengal were in parish work – he spent 12 years with the Garo tribals along the Indian border in the Mymensingh District. He was fortunate to be chaplain to the Poor Clare Sisters at St. Michael’s Monastery, his work consisting of visits to Christian villages spread out for 50 miles in all directions, where he heard confessions, celebrated Mass, performed baptisms and marriages, as well as made sick calls. He also spent six years in traditional Bengali parishes in the Dhaka District.

From 1977-1980, Fr. Pope studied psychology and hospital ministry at Loyola University in Chicago, Ill. Upon completing his graduate studies, he returned to Dhaka where he worked for the remainder of his ministry at the Nevin Clinic and Sick Shelter on the Notre Dame College campus. Fr. Pope also taught counseling in the Major Seminary and served as spiritual director for hundreds of seminarians and many priests. He was assigned to Holy Cross House in 2014.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Dr. Charles E. Pope and Mrs. Julia F. Pope; his sister, Julia Joyce (Jack) Riggio; his brother, Cmdr. Charles E. Pope, USN; and a nephew, John David Clem. He is survived by his sister Ellie (Dave) Clem, as well as several nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will be from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, Ind., where there will be a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. Burial will be in the community cemetery at Notre Dame. Kaniewski Funeral Home, South Bend, is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765 or online at donate.holycrossusa.org.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rev. George F. Pope, C.S.C., please visit our floral store.