Eluru Diocese Pays Solemn Tribute and Observes Two-Day Mourning for Late Pope Francis

Eluru, 26 April 2025 – The Diocese of Eluru deeply mourned the death of His Holiness Pope Francis on 21 April. Bishop Jaya Rao Polimera, Bishop of Eluru, paid floral tributes to the late Pope and addressed people from all walks of life across the diocese. He recalled his visit to Pope Francis and remembered the saintly nature of the deceased Pontiff.

The following day, the Bishop celebrated a concelebrated Holy Mass for the repose of Pope Francis’s soul at the Cathedral grounds. Several Christian and non-Christian attendees joined the service with tears in their eyes.

The diocese declared a holiday for all its institutions and observed two days of mourning, allowing the faithful across the region to grieve, reflect, and honour the life and legacy of the beloved Pontiff in a spirit of deep reverence.

By Fr. Steven Thomas