Pray for pope at Mass in Little Rock April 27

Published: April 24, 2025

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will celebrate a memorial Mass for Pope Francis at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock on Sunday, April 27 at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome to come and pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. The Mass for Hope and Healing originally scheduled at that time, has been canceled.

Pope Francis, 88, died April 21, one day after Easter. He served as spiritual leader for the Catholic Church worldwide for 12 years. His funeral Mass will be Saturday, April 26, in St. Peter’s Square at 10 a.m. (3 a.m. central time). The funeral begins "novemdiales," an ancient tradition of nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of the late pope’s soul worldwide.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops offers this special "Novena in Memory of Pope Francis" to be prayed from April 26 to May 4. To learn more about the pope's death, his papacy and the election of a new pope, visit Arkansas Catholic.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let the perpetual light shine upon him. And may he and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.