Memorial Mass Planned for Pope at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Catholic Archdiocese is preparing a memorial mass next week to pay tribute to Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday.

It comes as Catholics around the world prepare for the Pope’s funeral on Saturday and as cardinals from across the globe gather to discuss press issues and to elect a new holy father.

Days ahead of the funeral service for Pope Francis, Catholic archdiocese of Nassau, Archbishop Patrick Pinder says despite his illness, the Pope’s sudden passing took him by surprise.

It comes as the Catholic church in The Bahamas is preparing a memorial in his honor for next Friday.

Pope Francis suddenly died on April 24th, shortly after 7 a.m. that morning.

It came after he spent weeks in the hospital battling health challenges.

International reports say the holy father died from heart failure.

With his funeral set for Saturday morning, Archbishop Pinder explains what happens in the aftermath of his funeral.

The Most Rev. Patrick Pinder – Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nassau

“After the funeral, the church enters nine formal days of mourning and during that time again the body of the cardinals who have gathered, they have continue in daily meetings called general congregations taking care of the official business of the church that has to be taken care of on a regular basis and 15 days after the death of the pope they have the conclave and the conclave is where the cardinals who are cardinal electors go to elect the new Pope.”

While there are 250 cardinals worldwide, Pinder says only 130 are cardinal electors that will participate in the process to elect the new Pope.

But in addition to selecting a new Pope, those cardinals will also handle administrative matters of the church and discuss needs of the Catholic Church.