Montreal faithful mourn loss of Pope Francis, herald his example

Montreal faithful said prayers and remembered Pope Francis, a man said to speak for the 'vulnerable' and poor.

It has been a day of mourning for many in Montreal following the news that Pope Francis has died.

At the break of day, one devoted Catholic was on her knees at the foot of the iconic Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood.

“I [saw the news] this morning, and I was thinking it was not true, it was fake news. I did [a] Rosary specially for him,” said Ewa Kopec, also at the oratory.

The pope’s death is a big loss for many Catholics, such as Oscar Olivas, who said he was filled with emotion, calling Francis the people’s pope.

“He led by example,” he said. “He advocated for the migrants, the poor and the environment.”

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On Easter Monday, oratory officials say they expect more visitors than usual.

There are eight masses, and special prayers will be recited during them all.

“We’ll be informing all the faithful, people who are coming here today, to continue to pray for him,” said priest Jomon Kalladanthiyil. “We are all saddened by his death.”

The pope declared 2021 the year of Saint Joseph, and he had a special devotion to Mary and Joseph since childhood.

“I wish to assure you of how close you are to my heart, and to thank you for your exceptional work promoting devotion to Saint Joseph,” Pope Francis wrote in a letter to the oratory.

“This letter reminds us of how we had a special connection towards the pope,” said oratory vice-rector Jerome Jose. “He knew Saint Joseph Oratory even though he did not come here. So, we are emotionally very much touched by this letter.”

Requiem mass to be held Tuesday in Montreal

On Monday, Archbishop of Montreal Christian Lépine spoke about the “man whose life was dedicated to serving the most vulnerable and promoting a Church that is open and welcoming to all.”

“Pope Francis profoundly marked our era through his unwavering commitment to the Gospel values of compassion, humility, and social justice,” he said. “His constant call to care for the poor and his passionate advocacy for the environment deeply resonated with us, as these concerns remain central to our own mission.”

Lépine will lead a requiem mass at the Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral in Montreal on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

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Quebec Premier François Legault said Pope Francis will have a lasting impression for his “humility, openness and compassion for the most vulnerable.”

“I offer my deepest condolences to the Christians of Quebec, but also to those around the world,” he wrote on X.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante also offered her condolences, highlighting the pope’s work with marginalized populations.

“Pope Francis deeply cared about the fate of the most vulnerable in our society. His great humanity should inspire us to build a more equal and peaceful world,” she said.

With files from CTV News’ Daniel J. Rowe.