The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception will celebrate a special Mass of Thanksgiving for the Life of Pope Francis on Saturday, April 26, at 4:30 p.m. ET in the Great Upper Church, on the same day of the funeral of the late Holy Father. All are invited to attend the Mass to pray for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul, to offer thanksgiving for his life and ministry as Successor of St. Peter, and to reflect upon Divine Mercy, a message so central to the late pontiff.
Monsignor Walter Rossi, Rector of the Basilica, said, “We join the world in sadness at the news of the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis. We also join in the chorus of prayers for his eternal rest. In a particular way, we at Mary’s Shrine are saddened because we knew the Holy Father personally. As the first Pontiff from the Americas, the Holy Father himself came on pilgrimage to the Basilica in 2015 to canonize Fray Junípero Serra, marking the first canonization on United States soil. His visit left a lasting impact upon us at Mary’s Shrine, this city of Washington D.C., and this nation.”
The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at Mass. The Mass will rather fittingly be celebrated as the Vigil Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday. As Pope, Francis continually spoke of God’s abundant mercy, as evident in his 2015 homily at the Basilica where he urged the faithful to “go out to proclaim the merciful embrace of the Father.”
For those unable to attend in person, the Mass will be livestreamed at www.nationalshrine.org/mass.
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ABOUT THE BASILICA
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic church in North America, and it is among the ten largest churches in the world. Dedicated to the patroness of the United States, the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception, the Basilica is the nation’s preeminent Marian shrine and patronal church and has been designated a national sanctuary of prayer and pilgrimage. Among those who have visited the National Shrine during its 100+ year history are Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, Saint Pope John Paul II, and Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta.