Accra: The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has announced plans to organise a national memorial mass in honor of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, 21st April 2025, in the Vatican, Rome. The mass will be a solemn liturgical celebration attended by bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful to pay tribute to the late Holy Father.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, President of the GCBC, issued a statement announcing the Pope’s death and encouraging archdioceses, dioceses, and parishes to conduct local Requiem Masses and special Holy Hours in his memory. The statement also urged parishes to reflect on his teachings and witness through moments of prayer.
The GCBC further encouraged Catholic schools, seminaries, and other institutions to host prayer services, talks, and discussions to help the faithful, especially the youth, appreciate Pope Francis’s life and legacy. The statement highlighted Pope Francis’s service to the Church, marked by humility, faith, and dedication to the poor, peace, and environmental care.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina on December 17, 1936, was elected pope on March 13, 2013. Known for his concern for the poor, he was considered an outsider before his election. Throughout his papacy, he garnered numerous accolades, including the Independent Publisher Book Award for Freedom Fighter of the Year 2017.
In a message to the faithful, the GCBC urged prayers for the repose of Pope Francis’s soul, acknowledging the significant loss for the Universal Church.
