Pope Francis celebrated Mass for more than 120 deceased cardinals and bishops

TO Christina Miller

Vatican, November 4, 2024 / 11:35

Pope Francis celebrated a Mass for the deceased cardinals and bishops in St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday morning, saying they were “shepherds and models for the flock of the Lord” who loved the Church in their own way.

Seven Catholic cardinals and 123 Catholic bishops have died in the past 12 months.

“Our remembrance becomes a prayer of intercession for our dear brothers, the chosen members of the people of God. They were baptized into the death of Christ to rise with Him,” the Pope said in his homily at the Mass. The Pope has a custom of making sacrifices. mass in November in honor of prelates who died last year.

“Having broken the bread of life on earth, may they now enjoy a place at his table,” he continued. “Let us pray that they may rejoice in eternal communion with the saints, and we will confidently hope to rejoice with them in heaven.”

During his homily, the Holy Father invited more than 200 people attending Monday’s Mass – including cardinals, bishops, priests, men and women religious, and lay people – to reflect on the word “remember” in the account of Christ’s crucifixion recorded in St. . Gospel of Luke.

“Ricordare” in Italian means “to lead back to the heart (or) to carry into the heart,” the Pope shared. “This man, crucified next to Jesus, turned his terrible pain into a prayer: “Carry me in your heart, Jesus.”

Emphasizing the importance of the heart of our Lord, the Holy Father said that Jesus always listens to the prayers of defenseless sinners.

“This criminal, who dies as a ‘disciple of the last hour,’ wanted only one thing: to find the desired heart,” he said. “The heart of Christ, pierced with pain, was open for the salvation of the world. (He has) an open heart, not a closed one. Dying himself, he was open to the voice of the dying.”

“Jesus dies with us because he died for us,” Pope Francis repeated to the crowd.

Sitting before the covered altar of the Chair of St. Peter, the Holy Father implored his listeners to have a merciful and compassionate heart like Jesus.

“How do we keep people in our hearts? How do we remember those who are close to us throughout our lives? Are you judging? Are you sharing? Or (are you) welcome?” – Dad asked.

“Dear brothers and sisters, by turning to the heart of God, men and women today and of any age can find hope of salvation,” insisted the Holy Father. “The Lord is near to us.”

“Jesus, remember us! Jesus, remember us!”

(Story continues below)

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

Six American bishops were among the deceased clerics remembered during the Vatican Mass: Bishop Raymond Emil Goedert of Chicago; Bishop of Washington Francisco Gonzalez Valer; Bishop of Detroit Thomas John Gumbleton; Bishop Daniel Patrick Reilly of Worcester, Massachusetts; Bishop Edward James Slattery of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Bishop Vasily Harry Losten of Stamford, Connecticut, Ukrainians.

Christina Millar is a freelance journalist with professional experience in humanitarian aid and development, news journalism, entertainment marketing, politics and government, business and entrepreneurship.