Imphal: The Catholic Church in Manipur will hold a ‘Requiem Mass’ for the Holy Father Pope Francis on the day of his funeral at 6:30 am at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Mantripukhri in Imphal on Saturday.
Archbishop of Imphal, Dr Linus Neli, has called upon all Catholic faithful to attend the service. Those who can’t participate in the Requiem Mass at the Cathedral are asked to arrange a similar mass at their respective parishes either on Friday or Saturday.
A Catholic funeral mass, also known as a Requiem Mass, is a liturgical celebration of the Christian community for the deceased, typically held in a Church. It includes a funeral liturgy, which is a form of Mass for the dead. The service focuses on the deceased’s faith and their transition into the afterlife, offering prayers and blessings for their soul.
As a mark of mourning on the passing away of His Holiness Pope Francis, the Archbishop Neli has requested all churches in the Archdiocese of Imphal to toll the church bell for a minute on the day of the funeral i;e on Saturday (April 26) at 1:30 pm.
Earlier, the Archdiocese had issued nine days of mourning until the funeral, and as a mark of solidarity with the global Catholic community, during this period of mourning, no official entertainment was allowed to take place in the Archdiocese of Imphal.
Following the Pope Francis’s death, the Archdiocese of Imphal has implemented a series of directives, which include the closure of all Catholic educational institutions on the day of the funeral, the display of Pope Francis’ portrait in churches and institutions and the offering of special Masses as a sign of respect and tribute to the late Holy Father Francis.
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