THE GOAN tribute to Pope Francis
* All dioceses, parishes, religious communities, Catholic families to observe 9 days of mourning and to offer special prayers
* Requiem Masses to be offered for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis
* Church bells be tolled to signify sorrow, announcing the passing away of Pontiff
PANAJI
President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and Archbishop of Goa and Daman Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao led the Church in India in mourning the passing away of Pope Francis on Monday.
Stating that Pope Francis had championed the cause of the poor and of the marginalised, while calling the world to embrace compassion, justice and care for creation, Cardinal Ferrao recalled Pope Francis’ special love for India, his longing to visit the land, and his canonisation of five Indian saints, including Goa’s illustrious son, St Joseph Vaz.
“With profound sorrow and a deep sense of loss, we mourn the passing away of our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Supreme Pontiff, the Vicar of Christ and the Successor of Peter. His demise marks an immeasurable loss to the entire Church,” said Cardinal Ferrao, in a message to all archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons, religious, catechists and lay faithful of the Latin Catholic Church in India.
“A true shepherd of God's people, Pope Francis dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel, championing the cause of the poor and of the marginalised, and calling the world to embrace compassion, justice and care for creation.”
As the spiritual leader of Catholics, he guided the Church with wisdom, humility and an open heart, always seeking to promote fellowship and striving to bring people closer to God.”
Cardinal Ferrao remarked that his legacy as the Successor of Peter, shepherding the Church from 2013 to 2025, will be forever cherished.
“His vision to transform the Church into a synodal community, one that listens, discerns, journeys together and embraces inclusivity, has left an indelible mark on the Church at all levels. His profound compassion for the poor and for those on the peripheries, especially migrants and refugees, gained recognition worldwide.”
“His tireless efforts in peacebuilding and fostering dialogue between nations will always be remembered. His outstanding commitment to interreligious dialogue remains praiseworthy and exemplary. His call to care for Mother Earth, through ‘Laudato Si’ was highly appreciated and sparked a global movement.”
Special love for India
Cardinal Ferrao said Pope Francis held a special love for India and longed to visit the land.
“He consistently reminded us of our duty to care for the poor and to build a synodal Church. In his recent message to the Indian Bishops, gathered at the 36th CCBI Plenary Assembly in Bhubaneswar in January 2025, the Holy Father urged them to prioritise the poor and the vulnerable in their ministry, calling upon them to open wide the doors of the Church.”
“He encouraged the Bishops to guide the local Churches in implementing the fruits of the synodal journey. Pope Francis canonised five Indian saints: St Kuriakose Elias Chavara and St Euphrasia Eluvathingal (November 23, 2014), St Joseph Vaz (January 14, 2015), St Mariam Thresia Chiramel (October 13, 2019) and St Devasahayam Pillai (May 15, 2022).
9-day mourning, special prayers
As the Catholic Church grieved this monumental loss, Cardinal Ferrao called upon all dioceses, parishes, religious communities and families to observe nine days of mourning and to offer special prayers and Requiem Masses for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis.
“As a visible sign of our grief, church bells should be tolled to signify our sorrow and announce the passing away of our Supreme Pontiff. Wherever possible and considering local circumstances, I urge all dioceses to gather priests, religious and lay faithful at the Cathedral, on a suitable day, to offer a Requiem Mass, uniting in prayer for the eternal repose of our beloved Holy Father. This will be an expression of our profound solidarity with the Universal Church,” stated Cardinal Ferrao.
