Will miss voice of sanity in troubled times: Kol Catholics mourn Pope Francis’s demise
Times of India | 22 April 2025
123 Kolkata: Nearly 1.7 lakh Catholics across 55 churches under the Archdiocese of Calcutta paid homage to Pope Francis on Monday. They remembered him for preaching global peace irrespective of any caste and creed across the world. Twenty of these churches are situated in the city.
The Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis, also the first non-European pontiff in over 1,200 years, passed away on Monday morning. His death brought a pall of gloom across churches in the city.
At a time when there is unrest, Pope Francis's work for the cause of global peace throughout his life ought to be remembered, said Thomas D'Souza, Archbishop of the city. "Pope Francis was a parcel of peace on earth and he always wanted to bring peace with all religions. He advocated for peace throughout the world. The path shown by him should be followed for the sake of global peace and harmony," said the Archbishop.
Members from the Archdiocese of Calcutta and the Catholic Association of Bengal congregated at St Thomas Church on Monday evening for prayer and floral tributes to Pope Francis. Father Dominic Gomes, vicar general and chancellor of the Archdiocese of Calcutta, who led the prayer, stated that the Pope dedicated his life to the cause of humanity across all castes and religions. "He was a beacon of compassion, humility, and unwavering commitment to justice, peace, and the Gospel of Christ. His fearless voice for the poor, the environment, and human dignity gave hope to millions and called the world to a more just and merciful path," said Gomes.
Angelina Mantosh Jasnani, president of the Catholic Association of Bengal, said, "With a heavy heart, we joined the world in bidding farewell to Pope Francis. Though he departed from this world, his light will continue to guide the faithful across generations."
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolence on social media as she posted on X: "Saddened to know of the demise of His Holiness Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church… My heart goes out to all my fellow Christian brothers and sisters in India and the rest of the world and I feel connected with them all in a profound sense of loss and empathy."
Churches across the city remembered the Pope. Father Naveen Tauro of St Teresa's Church said, "He brought many reforms, especially women empowerment, giving them a greater role in the Vatican. He also maintained strong diplomatic ties with other nations, leaving behind a legacy of balance and inclusion."
"He recovered from his sickness, so we believed he would live longer. But it was sad to hear about his demise," said Father Peppin Gnana, Sacred Heart Church. "He was the first Jesuit Pope who spoke for justice and truth fearlessly. He brought many renewals in the church to create a better world," said Father Dipak Gomes, Lord Jesus Church.
Michael Lindsay, a parishioner at the memorial service, St Thomas Church, said, "He fearlessly advocated for the persecuted in the Middle East and even called for investigations into whether certain actions amounted to genocide, demonstrating that moral leadership knows no borders."