HONG KONG (SE): Over a thousand faithful gathered at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Central on April 28 to mourn the passing of Pope Francis, who completed his earthly pilgrimage on April 21, Easter Monday.
The requiem Mass was celebrated by John Cardinal Tong Hon, the former bishop of Hong Kong, who paid tribute to the late pontiff’s enduring love for the Church in China.
Among those who came to pay their respects were more than 10 leaders from various Christian denominations, including Archbishop Andrew Chan Au-ming, retired Archbishop Peter Kwong Kong-kit, retired Bishop Thomas Soo Yee-po and Bishop Timothy Kwok Chi-pei of the Anglican Church; Metropolitan Nektarios Tsilis of the Eastern Orthodox Metropolis of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia; Coptic Father Dawoud Hanna; Reverend Jennifer Leung Mei-ying, vice bishop of the Lutheran Church; and Reverend Po Kam-cheong, associate general secretary of the Hong Kong Council of Church of Christ in China.
Government dignitaries in attendance included former chief executives, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Donald Tsang Yam-kuen; former legislator, Martin Lee Chu-ming; secretary for the Civil Service, Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan; and secretary for Development, Bernadette Linn Hon-ho.
Floral tributes from chief executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, and secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Alice Mak Mei-kuen, were placed outside the cathedral.
Close to 20 members of the diplomatic corps from various consulates were also present, underscoring Pope Francis’s global impact.
Lovingly known as the People’s Pope, his smile brought comfort, and his proclamation of the good news uplifted the poor. His profound compassion and unwavering commitment to peace and love made him a shining example for all Christians
Cardinal Tong
The Mass was concelebrated by around 100 priests, including vicars general Father Peter Choy Wai-man, Father Paul Kam Po-wai, and Father Joseph Chan Wing-chiu, along with Monsignor José Luis Díaz-Mariblanca Sánchez, head of the Holy See Study Mission in Hong Kong.
In his homily, Cardinal Tong remembered Pope Francis as a shepherd of joy and a voice for the vulnerable. “Lovingly known as the People’s Pope, his smile brought comfort, and his proclamation of the good news uplifted the poor. His profound compassion and unwavering commitment to peace and love made him a shining example for all Christians,” the cardinal said.
Cardinal Tong also recounted his personal experiences with the late pope, including presenting him with a statue of Our Lady of Sheshan, a cherished image among Chinese Catholics, during the 2013 papal conclave. “Pope Francis later told me he kept the statue in his room and often prayed for the Church in China,” he said, visibly moved.
He recalled an emotional moment during Pope Farancis’s apostolic journey to Mongolia in 2023, when he unexpectedly invited Cardinal Tong and Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., the bishop of Hong Kong, to step forward, warmly holding their hands and sending his heartfelt greetings to the people of China. “That gesture took us by surprise and filled us with joy,” Cardinal Tong said.
Though Pope Francis never visited China, the cardinal said his care for its Catholics “was always profoundly felt.”
He praised Pope Francis’s tireless efforts to engage the world through his writings and papal journeys, often made trips in spite of personal mobility challenges, as part of his unwavering commitment to the Church’s mission
The cardinal went on to reflect on the late pope’s legacy as the first Latin American pontiff—a man of humility and simplicity, who fearlessly addressed global issues including poverty, migration, ecology, and peace. He praised Pope Francis’s tireless efforts to engage the world through his writings and papal journeys, often made trips in spite of personal mobility challenges, as part of his unwavering commitment to the Church’s mission.
The Prayer of the Faithful was offered in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, with intentions for Pope Francis’ eternal rest, unity in the universal Church, world peace, religious freedom, environmental stewardship, and the well-being of all generations.
Among those offering prayers was 13-year-old Valerie Chiu, a child delegate to the 2024 World Children’s Day at the Vatican, who had the honour of greeting the pope on behalf of the children of Asia.
“I admire Pope Francis and I am always learning to treat others like him,” Chiu said recalling that she received three fruit candies from the pope during their encounter—which she has since preserved at home as a treasured memory.
As the cathedral reached capacity, some 300 people joined the liturgy online from the community hall at Caritas House.
Two days earlier, on April 26, around 100 parishioners gathered in the cathedral’s parish hall to watch a live broadcast of the papal funeral. Throughout the week, many visited the cathedral to pray and sign the condolence book.
Cardinal Stephen and Joseph Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun, retired bishop of Hong Kong, represented the diocese at the Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome. Cardinal Stephen will participate in the upcoming papal conclave, which is scheduled to commence on May 7.
