“I loved him very much”
Twelve-year-old Kestorr Joe Fernandes attended in a wheelchair after recently fracturing his leg. An altar server at the church, the Grade Seven student didn’t want to miss the special mass for the Pope, whom he “loved very much.”
“I really missed serving the altar today, but I’m glad I could come and pray for our beloved Pope,” he said.
Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
His father, Henry Fernandes, operations manager with an insurance company, said he was one of the blessed followers who got the chance to serve the pontiff during his Abu Dhabi visit in 2019.
“I had joined as a lay minister in 2018, and I received that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve the Pope the very next year. This whole week, we have been closely following every development related to the Pope, and earlier today we watched his funeral on TV. He was a great example to the world. Peace was his motto, and he practiced what he preached. He will live in our hearts forever,” added the Indian expat.
His legacy will live on
Merisa Saveret, a Filipina housemaid, came with some of her friends. She said: “We came because we really honor our Pope for his kindness, goodness, and all the good deeds and words he left behind. His pilgrimage in this earthly world has ended, but his legacy will live on and continue to guide us through our faith.”
Several non-Catholic Christians were also present at the mass, while people of different faiths joined in a memorial service that followed.
Charming, heroic leader
At the requiem mass, Fr. Lennie J.A. Connully, Parish Priest, welcomed the gathering to the special prayer for the “charming and heroic leader of the Catholic Church.”
“His earthly privilege has come to an end, and he has gone to his eternal grace. And we are all gathered here to pray for him,” he said.
Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, led the prayer in the presence of Archbishop Christophe Zakhia El-Kassis, Apostolic Nuncio to the UAE and Yemen.
Bishop Martinelli recalled the great deeds of the Pope in spreading the message of peace and reuniting nations, serving the poor, and even washing the feet of prisoners. He called upon the believers to follow the path of fraternity that was led by the Pope.
Archbishop El-Kassis remembered the Pope’s visit to the UAE on the invitation of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, for a historic visit during which the Pope co-signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.
He thanked Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Khaled, who attended the Pope’s funeral.
Special offerings
As the believers said their prayers, children made special offerings of candles, rosaries, flower baskets, plants, and more. A bookmark of prayer in memory of the Pope was also distributed to the believers.
During the memorial service that followed, people paid tribute to his enduring legacy. Several speakers noted that his memory would inspire them to walk the same path of compassion and hope.
The event celebrated the Pope’s life with music and a dance performance. A video on the Pope’s life was also screened.
