Less than 24 hours after the announcement of Pope Francis’s death, the Archdiocese of Montreal gathered a large assembly for a solemn requiem Mass celebrated on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral.

Archbishop Christian Lépine presided over the liturgy, which drew a wide range of faithful—including youth, families, and members of the clergy—all united in prayer for a shepherd whose compassion, closeness, and deep faith left a lasting mark on the contemporary Church.

The evening continued with a prayer vigil organized by the diocesan Youth Ministry team. It was a moving and heartfelt moment of reflection, animated by two choirs: one from the CéDum Centre (Le Centre étudiant Dominicum), and asecond led by musicians accompanied by husband-and-wife team Rhea Foz and J.E. Jalea, alongside Sophia Velasco from the Filipino Catholic Mission of Montreal.

Two young adults offered powerful personal testimonies:

• Sally Yasmine, a member of the Vatican’s International Youth Advisory Body established by Pope Francis,
• and Kevin Reda, pastoral associate at Laval's Holy Name of Jesus Parish and actively involved in diocesan youth accompaniment and ministry.

This vigil, the fruit of close collaboration between the Cathedral team, diocesan offices, and local media partners, reflected the vitality of our local Church. The heartfelt and timely response of the Catholic community is a testament to the affection held for Pope Francis—and to the enduring inspiration of his legacy.

Watch the video of the celebration: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HoBeJFn9ao&ab_channel=%C3%89glisecatholique%C3%A0Montr%C3%A9al

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