Panaji (Goa) [India], April 26 (ANI): As India observes a day of mourning on the demise of Pope Francis, the Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Panaji, Goa, held a prayer for the Pope on Saturday.
The prayer was led by the Parish Priest, Father Walter De Sa, who prayed for peace in Heaven for the Pope.
Speaking to ANI after the prayers, he highlighted Pope Francis’ legacy of “revolutionising the world.”
“A special mass celebrating the life of late Pope Francis, who passed away on 21st April in the morning. Today is his funeral in Rome. People are gathered in the Vatican, including many leaders. He is a person who has revolutionised the world, inculcating in them human values and gospel values,” the Father told ANI.
Discussing the Pope’s humble upbringing, the parish priest recalled the decision to choose the name Francis, which originated from Saint Francis of Assisi, also from a humble background.
“He became penniless and led a very simple life, and that is why. When he was elected Pope, he took the name Francis. The name Francis originates from Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis of Assisi was a poor brother, Franciscan. He was a man who sacrificed himself, and this is how the Pope wanted to imitate him,” the priest said.
President Droupadi Murmu paid homage to Pope Francis at the Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City along with senior Indian ministers, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.
She was accompanied by Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, and Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, George Kurian, as mentioned by the MEA in a post on X.
“President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn paid homage to His Holiness Pope Francis at the Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. President Murmu was accompanied by Minister @KirenRijiju and MoS @GeorgekurianBjp to pay respects,” read the post by Jaiswal.
President Droupadi Murmu is on a two-day visit to the Vatican City from April 25 to 26 to attend Pope Francis’s state funeral and offer condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India.
Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta on April 21, according to a statement from the Vatican. He was the first Latin American pope to lead the Roman Catholic Church after succeeding Pope Benedict XVI on March 13, 2013.
On April 26, President Murmu will attend the funeral Mass of Pope Francis at Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City, where dignitaries from around the world will also be present.
The ministry had also announced three days of state mourning as a mark of respect for the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. Two days of state mourning were observed on April 22 and April 23, and one day of state mourning will be observed today. (ANI)
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