Joburg’s Cathedral of Christ the King to hold memorial mass honouring Pope Francis

JOHANNESBURG - The Cathedral of Christ the King in Johannesburg is on Wednesday morning expected to hold a memorial mass in honour of the late Pope Francis.

This marks the first major event reflecting on the life of the pope in South Africa since his passing on Monday.

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The head of the Catholic Church died at the age of 88 from a stroke.

His body is lying in state in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, his former residence.

While his funeral is expected to take place on Saturday, religious leaders around the globe are expected to lead believers in prayer to reflect on the life of a pope adored the world over.

Mourners, draped in black and clutching umbrellas, have begun trickling in at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Johannesburg.

The sacred space will become the heart of national mourning as South Africa holds its first major memorial mass in honour of Pope Francis, just days after the pontiff’s passing on Monday.

Inside, the cathedral glows with candlelight around a framed picture of the church leader fondly known as "the people’s pope".

For those who will gather there to honour a life of service, the occasion will act as more than a farewell.

It’s expected that the moment of shared grief will force many to reflect on a papacy that championed the poor, bridged divides, and called for peace in a fractured world.