Diocese of Joliet plans special Mass for Pope Francis

The Diocese of Joliet announced it will hold a special remembrance Mass for Pope Francis at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet.

The service will be celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Dennis E. Spies on Thursday at 7 p.m. following the Jubilee Year Reconciliation services offered from 6 p.m. to 7.

“We gather, as the people of the Diocese of Joliet, to pray for our Holy Father Pope Francis who has been called to the heavenly kingdom, may he now be rejoicing at the banquet table of heaven,” the Diocese said in the announcement of the service.

Pope Francis died early Monday morning and church leaders in northern Illinois reacted to his passing.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope in church history, was 88 years old and served for 12 years, after being elected to the office in March 2013.