A few hours after witnessing Pope Francis’s funeral, numerous followers gathered for a memorial mass at Montreal’s Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral on Saturday to honor the late pope.
The cathedral, which is a one-quarter scale version of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, has been pivotal in commemorating Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday. A larger assembly was present on Tuesday evening for a requiem mass.
Christian Lépine, the Archbishop of Montreal, officiated the Saturday mass. He, like many, rose early to watch the funeral procession on television and has been actively involved in local commemorative events.
“It felt as if time stood still for an entire week,” Lépine remarked at the close of the solemn gathering.
“Pope Francis was at the forefront of many important issues,” Lépine noted. “We provide a space for people to grieve and pray together, which is what we have been doing all week.”
Michelina Lavoratore expressed that she came to show her respects for Pope Francis, emphasizing that he should be remembered for his repeated calls for peace that often go unnoticed by political leaders.
Get breaking National news
For news affecting Canada and globally, sign up to receive breaking news alerts as they occur.
Lavoratore, a dame of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, a Catholic organization, mentioned that her connection to the pope was profound.
“I held a lot of admiration for him,” she stated.
However, the anticipation regarding the next pope was also on the minds of several attendees. Lavoratore expressed her hope that the future pope would be conservative, avoiding radical changes and honoring established traditions.
Geronimo Fernandez was present to pay his tribute as well.
“He implemented several changes swiftly,” Fernandez remarked about Pope Francis, noting that this rapid transformation may not have been beneficial. He hopes the next pope will be younger and genuine.
Denis Pelchat rated Pope Francis highly, acknowledging that while he couldn’t accomplish everything he set out to do, his efforts were commendable.
“I’m here to honor Pope Francis, whom I cherished, read about, and who inspired me deeply,” Pelchat shared. Regarding the next pope, he said he would “trust in God.”
“I have no specific expectations. Over the past 50 years, we’ve consistently been surprised by the elected popes, who always bring something unique,” Pelchat added.
When asked about his thoughts on the next pope, Lépine seemed intriguing.
“I expect to be surprised by the selection of the new pope,” he smiled.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
