All faiths for Pope Francis tribute

Spiritual leaders from all faiths come together to pay tribute. PICS/ARCHDIOCESE OF BOMBAY PRESS OFFICE

The Archdiocese of Bombay hosted an interfaith prayer service on Thursday to honour Pope Francis and his enduring message of compassion, dialogue, and fraternity. The prayer service, held at the Archbishop House Conference Hall in Colaba, was all about diversity as it brought together religious leaders from all communities, including Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, and Catholic.

Diplomats, along with Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan, were also present at the prayer service. The meeting reflected the diversity and unity championed by the Holy Father (Pope Francis), said the archdiocese spokesperson.

The service opened with a hymn - Make Me a Channel of Your Peace - a Pope Francis favourite. The hymn is a tribute to St. Francis of Assisi. Martin Maier, Consul General of Switzerland and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, praised the pope's advocacy for peace, stating, "His Holiness reminds us that dialogue and solidarity are the cornerstones of a just world."

Archbishop of Bombay, John Rodrigues, shared his personal anecdotes of encounters with Pope Francis, highlighting the pontiff's "radical love for the poor and his ability to bridge divides." He urged attendees to embody this spirit, saying, "Let us become artisans of peace, mending the fractures in our world through small acts of mercy. In a world yearning for healing, we are called to be channels of God's grace, just as Pope Francis urged."

Pope Francis's last public appearance was at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City on Easter Sunday, April 20, where he gave his final Easter address. He died at 07.35 am local time on Monday, April 21, aged 88. The pope's death began a papal interregnum and a nine-day period of mourning known as the novemdiales (Latin for 'nine days'). His funeral will take place today (April 26).