In a solemn display of faith and unity, the churches of Bethlehem gathered on Saturday, April 26, for a Holy Mass presided over by Msgr. William Shomali, Patriarchal Vicar General, at the Parish Church of St. Catherine in Bethlehem, to pray for the repose of the soul of His Holiness Pope Francis.
The Mass witnessed broad participation from clergy representing various Catholic churches, along with delegations from the Orthodox and Evangelical churches, church institutions, official bodies, and a large crowd of faithful who filled the church to capacity.
"I ask you to remember me in your prayers," Msgr. Shomali began his homily, quoting the late Holy Father, words he often repeated at the end of his meetings. During his homily, Msgr. Shomali remarked, "We, the people of the Holy Land, feel a profound debt of gratitude to Pope Francis, for he cared for us until the very end, carrying us in his prayers until his final day."
He continued, "The Pope cried out for peace in the world. In his final address, he mentioned every hotspot around the globe, giving special attention to the ongoing war in Gaza. He also said: 'I wish to renew our hope that peace is possible—from here, from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where all the churches of the world celebrated Easter together—so that the light of peace may shine forth from the Holy Land to the entire world.'"
Amid the challenging times the world is facing, Msgr. Shomali emphasized that the Pope never forgot those living in difficult circumstances. He noted, "The greatest example is Gaza. Every night at precisely 7:00 p.m., His Holiness would call the priests and sisters of the parish in Gaza to inquire about the condition of the people. He knew in detail what was happening." His Excellency stressed, "Each of us, according to our role and responsibility, from the greatest to the smallest, can adopt the words Pope Francis left us as a testament: there can be no peace without disarmament. Instead of each nation racing to build its own defenses, we must break down the barriers that obstruct the path to peace."
At the conclusion of the Mass, Bishop Shomali and the clergy received condolences on the passing of His Holiness. His Excellency also welcomed a delegation of leaders from security agencies and representatives of official institutions who came to offer their condolences to the Christians of the Holy Land on the death of Pope Francis.
