This story has been updated with details of a memorial Mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral on Thursday, April 24, and the Pope’s funeral Mass on Saturday, April 26. Thursday’s memorial Mass starts at 5:10 p.m. and can be viewed here.
The largest bell at Holy Rosary Cathedral was pealed 88 times in remembrance of the Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88.
As the Catholic community of Vancouver mourned the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, expressed his sadness, describing Francis as “a tireless shepherd of the Church, a beacon of hope, and a champion of the Gospel.”
“It is with great sorrow that I join the faithful of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, and Catholics around the world, in mourning the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis,” Archbishop Miller said in a statement.
Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m. Rome time on Easter Monday, April 21, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, as confirmed by the Holy See Press Office.
The 88-year-old Pontiff led the Catholic Church for just over 12 years.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, officially announced the Pope’s death in a video message. “At 7:35 this morning, the bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Farrell stated.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of God and his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized.”
A Memorial Mass for Pope Francis will be celebrated by Archbishop Miller on Thursday, April 24, at 5:10 p.m. at Holy Rosary Cathedral. Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, will preside over the solemn liturgy inviting the faithful to come together in prayer and thanksgiving for the Pontiff’s life of humble service, steadfast witness to the Gospel, and deep compassion for the poor and the marginalized. The Mass will be livestreamed.
In a tribute to the late Pope, the cathedral’s largest bell was pealed 88 times — once for each year of his life. Archbishop Miller asked that parishes include special intentions for Pope Francis in the Prayers of the Faithful at all Masses until the day of the funeral, Saturday, April 26. Suggested prayers included intercessions for the repose of his soul, gratitude for his witness of faith, and comfort for the faithful in this time of mourning.
The Archbishop also directed flags at all Catholic schools and parishes to be lowered to half-mast until the day of the funeral.
In Edmonton, Archbishop Richard Smith, who will be installed as the next Archbishop of Vancouver on May 23, celebrated morning Mass at St. Joseph’s Basilica and said the Pope’s death was a time of sadness for the Church, and yet one of joy for Francis as he is united with Christ. The Archbishop was to give a press conference after Mass.
Bishop William T. McGrattan, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and Bishop of Calgary, offered a reflection on the Pope’s life and legacy.
“It is with profound sadness that I join my brother Bishops, as well as the Catholic faithful in Canada and those around the world, to mourn the loss of our Holy Father,” Bishop McGrattan said.
“When the Cardinals elected him to the See of Peter in March 2013, Pope Francis invited us on that first night to ‘always pray for one another, for the whole world, that there may be a great spirit of fraternity,’” Bishop McGrattan said.
“Over the past 88 years of his Petrine Ministry, his pastoral witness and leadership of the Catholic Church as the 266th Successor of Saint Peter marked the Church, the world and our Canadian society with the values of the Gospel. Francis’ frequent consoling image of the Church as ‘a field hospital’ brought us a message of hope, peace, compassion and mercy.”
Francis “desired the Church to be close to the people, to be present in ways that reflected the mercy, forgiveness and care of Christ. He challenged us to become missionary disciples of faith, hope and love and announce the joy of the Gospel to the world.”
Cardinal Francis Leo, the Archbishop of Toronto, declared that “Our Catholic family worldwide is in mourning following the death of our spiritual father, Pope Francis.”
Cardinal Leo, whom The Pope elevated to the College of Cardinals this past December, praised the Bishop of Rome’s personal leadership.
“Since 2013, our shepherd has guided the flock lovingly and served as a global ambassador of peace, hope and love,” stated the cardinal. “The Holy Father’s humility, compassion and care for others, most especially the poor and marginalized, has served as a powerful witness and a reminder of our daily call to reflect the face of Jesus to all those whom we encounter.”
Archbishop of Regina Donald Bolen pronounced that Francis’ “twelve-year papacy was defined by an unwavering commitment to the mercy of God, made visible in the life of the Church and the world. His tireless concern for the poor, the marginalized, and those so often overlooked, has left an indelible mark on the lives of people around the world.”
Archbishop of Montreal Christian Lepine released a YouTube testimonial about how Francis moved him with his 2013 World Youth Day message to build “a world and civilization of encounter.”
“Why a civilization of encounter? Because of the value of each human person: to go and meet each other as a way to affirm the dignity of each human person,” said Archbishop Lepine. “Can we do that alone? No. It is only together that we can affirm the real value of each person. The differences that we have between each other are not an obstacle, they are a blessing. To see the value of the other is also to learn — to view the difference as a blessing for our own lives. That’s why Pope Francis’ message of the value of encounter and togetherness — so we can enrich our life and enrich our peace — is so important today.”
Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, the Archbishop of Quebec, remarked “We are saddened by the death of our beloved Pope Francis, a great servant of the Gospel and a lover of humanity. Despite the immense sadness of his departure, I give thanks to God for the life he gave. His life and his teaching brought us back to the source of the Gospel, Jesus Christ. May the Lord welcome him into eternal life.”
Recently installed Archbishop of Winnipeg Murray Chatlain greatly admired how The Pope “walked the walk.”
“He lived a life of simplicity and poverty remarkable for one in such a high position of leadership. He lived an option for the poor from visiting correctional centres, to visiting countries struggling with poverty and division, to simply greeting door holders along with dignitaries. I think this contributed to him beginning his leadership talking about the joy of the Gospel and then living it right up to yesterday with a spirit of joy and enthusiasm.”
Archdiocese of St. John’s Archbishop Peter Hundt commended Francis as a “devoted advocate of the poor and of the environment,” remarking that “he has led the Church with love, devotion, humour and courage. While we mourn his passing, we also thank God for the gift of his leadership these past twelve years and pray that he will receive the eternal reward promised to all those who serve the Lord faithfully.”
The Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall, under the stewardship of Archbishop Marcel Damphousse, acclaimed Francis for how he “inspired the faithful through his humility, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel, especially in service to the poor and marginalized.”
The Newman Association of Vancouver said it was in “a period of mourning and praying” and cancelled scheduled events. “The passing of Pope Francis brings profound sadness to all within our Church,” said president Conroy Hui. “Pope Francis was a shepherd of gentleness, who sought those even at the ends of the earth.”
Francis was a reminder, he said, “especially during this Jubilee Year, that we live in Christian hope. A hope that despite all that is happening around us, must be kept alive. And it is with this hope that we commend his soul to the Heavenly Father.”
Campaign Life Coalition, the political arm of the Canadian pro-life movement, observed that “Pope Francis was a global advocate for human dignity, consistently upholding the sanctity of life in many of his teachings and public addresses. His words and actions reinforced the Catholic Church’s long-standing commitment to the defense of life, from conception to natural death.”
Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, the official international development and humanitarian aid agency of the Catholic Church in Canada, stated: “Let us pray that we are granted the strength to cope with the loss of the best friend the impoverished and the natural world had in our time. May his soul rest in eternal peace. And may we continue on the path of justice and peace upon which he sought to set us.”
Shari Guinta, the national president of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada, wrote that “women of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada mourn the Holy Father’s passing with genuine love and gratitude for his leadership and support. Pope Francis was a man of God who believed in humanity and had true compassion for those in need, the less fortunate and those who could not or were not allowed to speak for themselves. He was the definition of humanitarian and will be missed.”
The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL), the national lay Catholic organization that strives to defend the voices of Catholics in the public square, treasured how Francis “placed mercy at the heart of his ministry.
“His episcopal motto — Miserando atque eligendo, “Having mercy, He called him” — revealed a vision of the Church as the living instrument of God’s mercy in the world,” stated the CCRL. “His Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2015 invited the faithful to rediscover the tender face of the Father, and his pastoral style continually urged the Church to go out to the peripheries, to accompany the suffering, and to speak with a voice of conscience and compassion.”
With Canadian Catholic News and Catholic News Agency files
This is a developing story.
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