The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) announced Monday it will organize a series of nationwide memorial events in honour of Pope Francis, who died earlier in the day at the age of 88.

The Vatican confirmed the Pope’s passing on Easter Monday following a prolonged period of declining health. He had been hospitalized for 38 days between February and March this year amid ongoing health concerns.

In a statement signed by GCBC President and Bishop of Sunyani, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the Catholic Church in Ghana called on all bishops, clergy, religious, and lay members to offer prayers for the repose of the late Pontiff’s soul.

A national memorial Mass will be held at a date yet to be announced, the GCBC said. The event is expected to bring together leaders and members of the Catholic community from across the country. In the meantime, the Conference has encouraged all dioceses, parishes, and Catholic institutions to hold local requiem Masses, holy hours, and prayer services.

“These should be moments of prayerful reflection on his teachings and witness,” the statement said.

Catholic schools, seminaries, and youth organizations have also been urged to organize discussions and programs to reflect on Pope Francis’s life and contributions to the Church.

The GCBC further called for prayers for the global Church as it prepares to elect a new Pope, noting that Pope Francis had served the Church “faithfully and joyfully.”

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the 266th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. His papacy was defined by efforts to shift the Church’s focus toward issues of social justice, environmental stewardship, and care for the marginalized.

He was the first Jesuit Pope and the first from the Americas, marking a significant departure from centuries of European leadership within the Vatican.

Source:TheDotNews