Look: UAE church holds memorial prayers to honour Pope Francis

Abu Dhabi: The St Joseph's Church in Abu Dhabi held an octave of Easter and memorial prayers for Pope Francis Monday evening.

Bishop Paolo Martinelli OFM Cap, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia - The Catholic Church in UAE, Oman and Yemen - has instructed all parishes in the vicariate to offer Holy Mass in honour of Pope Francis.

Bishop Paolo also issued a statement on the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia's Facebook page. He said, “With great sadness, I communicate to the priests, religious and the people of God in the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia that our beloved Holy Father Pope Francis has returned to the house of God this morning at 7:35 am Rome time.”

Bishop Paolo said, “May the Lord receive Pope Francis into heavenly abode and grant him eternal peace. The People of God in the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia will always remain grateful for his great service to the Church, especially all the people in the UAE are greatly saddened by the death of Pope Francis, whom we remember with gratitude for his visit to Abu Dhabi in 2019.”

Rector of Dubai’s St Mary’s Catholic Church, Father Lennie J.A. Connully (OFM Cap), said his Church is expected to hold a special mass in honour of Pope Francis. Church leaders are expected to announce the date and time of the mass soon, said Father Lennie.

Gulf News will share the Special Mass's time, dates, and location. Watch this space for more.