Archdiocese Of Bombay Mourns The Death Of Pope Francis
The Archdiocese of Bombay, with over five lakh members, joined the rest of the Roman Catholic world in mourning Pipe Francis who passed away in Rome at 7.35 local time on Monday, April 21.
The office of the Archbishop John Rodrigues said that Pope Francis' departure has left an immeasurable void in the universal Roman Catholic church and in the hearts of India's faithful who cherished his prophetic voice and tender compassion. Our hearts ache with grief as we bid farewell to our beloved Holy Father—Supreme Pontiff, Vicar of Christ, and successor of St. Peter, the Archdiocese said in a statement on Monday afternoon. Pope Francis, a shepherd of boundless mercy, lived the Gospel by walking alongside the marginalised, advocating for peace, and tirelessly calling the Church to be a refuge of healing. His pontificate radiated hope for the poor, the displaced, and all who longed to feel Christ’s embrace, the statement added.
Archbishop of Bombay, John Rodrigues shared his memories of Pope Francis by saying that he taught the church to find Christ in those the world overlooks. "His humility, his dream of ‘a poor Church for the poor,’ and his courage to engage a wounded world transformed not only the Church but countless souls. While we mourn, we also give thanks for a legacy that will live on in every heart stirred by his example,” he said in his statement.Former Archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Oswald Gracias said that Pope Francis' vision knew no boundaries. "He urged us to be bridge-builders in a divided world, and his reforms — even to funeral rites — emphasized simplicity and faith in the Risen Lord. He led not as a monarch, but as a disciple. In our sorrow, let us honour him by embracing his mission: to be pilgrims of hope and witnesses of mercy.”
Pope Francis, who passed away at Casa Santa Marta, his residence inside Vatican City in Rome, had been ailing and had been admitted to a local hospital for 38 days to treat pneumonia — a condition that resulted from lifelong respiratory problems that began in his youth in Argentina.
Even in his final days, he exemplified steadfast faith, returning to Casa Santa Marta, the Archdiocese of Bombay said.
Casa Marta functions as a guest house for the clergy. Pope Francis declined to use the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, instead living in a suite in Casa Santa Marta from his election in 2013.
Father Nigel Barrett, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Bombay said that as the faithful in Mumbai wait for the details of the funeral rites, they will be guided by the updated Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis—a liturgy Pope Francis himself revised.The Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, which details to be followed following the death of a Pontiff, was revised and approved by Pope Francis on April 29, 2024. The document introduced a number of new elements for papal funerals.
"We invite the faithful to gather in prayer at Eucharistic celebrations across the Archdiocese. Together, let us entrust his soul to God, confident in the resurrection he proclaimed with unwavering joy," said Barrett.
A Requiem Mass for Pope Francis will be held this evening (April 21, 2025) at the Cathedral of the Holy Name, Colaba, at 7:00 pm.
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