23-04-2025
Dubai: St Mary's Church invites residents to attend memorial service for Pope Francis
All are invited to attend a memorial service for the late Pope Francis on Saturday, April 26, at St Mary's Catholic Church in Oud Metha, Dubai, the church announced on Wednesday.
The mass, at 7.30pm, will be presided by Bishop Paolo Martinelli OFM Cap., Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, and will be followed by a programme at Bp. Gremoli Hall within the church compound.
'With deep sorrow, we mourn the passing of our beloved Shepherd. May eternal light shine upon him, and may he rest in peace,' said an announcement from the church, which is believed to be the biggest Catholic parish in the world with more than 300,000 parishioners.
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Meanwhile, the UAE diplomatic community will hold a memorial mass for Pope Francis at the Church of St. Francis in the Abrahamic Family House on Sa'adiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, on Thursday.
The mass at 7pm will be officiated by Archbishop Christophe El-Kassis, Apostolic Nuncio to the UAE, and concelebrated by Bishop Martinelli.
The book of condolences is kept at the Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican Embassy in the UAE) in Abu Dhabi.
On Wednesday, the coffin containing the Pope's body was carried from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter's Basilica to let the public pay their respects. The Pope's funeral will take place at 8 GMT (12 noon UAE time) on Saturday, the Vatican said.
In his homily during the mass on Monday at St Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, Bishop Martinelli said the late pontiff was a Pope for migrants and underscored how 'Pope Francis has committed all his strength to the renewal of the Church".
visit to Abu Dhabi in February 2019 is unforgettable for us,' added the Italian bishop.
