A Requiem Mass for Pope Francis was celebrated at St. Catherine’s Convent Chapel in Raikia, Kandhamal, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, paying tribute to the late pontiff’s remarkable legacy on April 27.
Father Purushottam Nayak of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, in his homily, recalled Pope Francis’s leadership of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
“He will be remembered for his outreach to women, immigrants, refugees, and people of other faiths. As the first non-European pope in centuries, he envisioned a poor church for the poor and showed deep concern for the environment," Nayak said.
Highlighting the pope’s emphasis on social justice and care for the marginalized, Nayak also spoke about Laudato Si, Pope Francis’s encyclical on caring for creation, published on June 18, 2015.
Fourteen Daughters of Charity nuns paid homage with deep respect and reverence.
Sister Anima Minz of the Daughters of Charity expressed, “I am inspired by his simplicity and humility. He loved children greatly." She recalled with emotion the blessing their congregation received from Pope Francis at Santa Marta's guest house.
On April 26, Francis' burial day, the orphaned children under the care of the Daughters of Charity at Raikia’s Child Care Institute (CCI) also paid tribute to Pope Francis.
The sisters serve 21 orphaned children currently, along with managing dispensaries and schools and offering pastoral support to those in need.
The Daughters of Charity, co-founded in 1633 by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, work across 90 countries. The North India Province, to which Kandhamal belongs, has 232 members living in 42 houses across 14 dioceses.
Jayanti Singh, a teacher and nun at St. Catherine’s Girls’ School, shared, “One of Pope Francis’s quotes that inspires me is ‘Love and charity are service, helping others, serving others.’ May his soul rest in peace.”
Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. His funeral took place on April 26 at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.
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