A special Mass to celebrate the life of Pope Francis was held in Prince George on Friday, May 2.
The pope died at age 88 of a stroke on Easter Monday, less than a day after he delivered the Easter Sunday address to a crowd of tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina became the 264th pope on March 13, 2013 — the first Latin American and first Jesuit to be elected as pope. He was also the first pope to take the name Francis.
Bishop Stephen Jensen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George delivered the Mass to pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis on May 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral at 887 Patricia Blvd.
The service was livestreamed for people who couldn't attend.
Jensen had posted the following letter on the Prince George diocese website after Francis's death:
“Early on Easter Monday in Rome, Pope Francis left this world and entered eternity.
“His legacy included a tireless emphasis on care for the marginalized in society and for migrants and refugees, a call to responsible stewardship of creation, promoting reconciliation and peace, and a commitment to the poor.
“His Apostolic journey to Canada in 2022 (what he called ‘a penitential pilgrimage’) was made to advance reconciliation and healing for those who attended the former Indian residential schools.
“His emphasis on the missionary character of the Church promoted a deeper awareness among Catholics of their Baptismal vocation to be witnesses for Christ. When he inaugurated the Jubilee Year last December, Pope Francis called us to be ‘pilgrims of hope.’ Now that his own pilgrimage has ended, we hope that he has met a merciful Judge and pray that he will be given a place among the saints.”
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