Pope Francis honoured in Darwin church service after death at 88

Just hours after celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, Catholic parishes turned their attention to commemorating the life of Pope Francis, who passed away overnight.

St Mary's Cathedral in Darwin held a memorial service following the death of Pope Francis.

Just hours after celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, Catholic parishes are now turning their attention to commemorating the life of Pope Francis, who passed away overnight.

In the final hours of Easter Monday, the Vatican announced His Holiness had passed away, aged 88, plunging more than a billion Catholics around the world into mourning.

The aftershocks of the announcement were felt among the Territory’s clergy, with parishes quick to inform their flocks of Pope Francis’ death.

In a bid to honour the legacy left by the Argentinian-born leader, Darwin’s St Mary’s Cathedral held a snap service on Tuesday afternoon, which was attended by more than 100 people – including NT Administrator Hugh Heggie.

Pope Francis has been honoured in a service in Darwin.

Bishop Eugene Hurley presided over the service in place of Bishop of Darwin Charles Gauci, who was in the middle of a flight when he learned of Pope Francis’ passing.

Speaking from the Middle East, Bishop Gauci told the NT News believers around the globe would miss the “lovely man” who led the Catholic world.

“We are grieving for him, we miss him and we pray for him,” he said.

“I’ve lived under a number of Popes in my lifetime, but Francis, I think, was very much a Pope of our time, and very much about translating the Gospel to the realities of today.”

Pope Francis never graced the Northern Territory with his presence, however he came very close in September 2024, when he visited Timor-leste.

Bishop Gauci and Bishop Eugene Hurley (second and third from left) with Pope Francis in Timor-Leste in September 2024.

On that occasion, both Bishop Gauci and Bishop Hurley made the short trip to Dili to meet the Pope.

Bishop Gauci recalled his fond memories of Pope Francis, who he met on multiple occasions.

“He was a lovely human being, definitely a good man of God who really reached out to the underdog everywhere,” he said.

“(He stood up) for people without a voice and I think he was the right man for our time.”

Locally, memorial masses have already been arranged with St Mary’s Cathedral to hold a Diocesan Memorial on April 29 at 7pm.

On the same day, memorial masses will also be held at Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy at 5.30pm, with regional services yet to announce their own services.

Concurrently, Catholics will wait for the Vatican to announce the church’s next leader, who is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.