The Catholic Diocese of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga has held a Requiem Mass for the late Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at age 88. The Holy Mass, presided over by The Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of the Diocese of was to thank God for the time the late Pope spent serving the Church and pray for the peaceful repose of the late Supreme Pontiff.
The Mass, held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish in Bolgatanga and attended by priests, religious (brothers and sisters) and the Catholic faithful within the Diocese, was to also pray for direction of God to choose a new Pope to lead the Church in these contemporary times.
Delivering a homily during the mass, The Most Reverend Agyenta described the late Pope as a gift to the Universal Church and the world as his works and liturgy was a direct response to the current challenges confronting the world.
He said the late Pope Francis was known for leading the Church towards the mercy of God, adding that his leadership, liturgy and teachings centred on compassion and mercy towards one another.
“We are saying goodbye to a man with a big heart”, The Most Reverend Agyenta eulogized the late Pope, adding “that was what the world needed at the time because there was so much hatred, conflicts, wars, wickedness and exclusiveness”, he said.
He said the late Pope Francis described the Catholic Church as hospital that was opened for all vulnerable people and wounded people across world to seek refuge and stressed the need for Christians to show compassion towards one another.
He said the late Pope worked towards inclusiveness and urged Christians to practice the teachings of the late Pope for a transformed world. Apart from advocacy through his teachings and works, his lifestyle was urging Christians to have mercy on the vulnerable and believed that God would guide the College of Cardinals to choose the next Pope who would respond to the needs of the current times.
“Let us pray that God, knowing the challenges we are experiencing now will elect a leader that we need”, he said.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected the 226th Pope of the Church in 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
Source : GNA
