Following the funeral Mass of Pope Francis follows Novemdiales or nine consecutive days of mourning.
This is an ancient tradition marked by Masses for the late Pope Francis.
These Eucharistic celebrations are open to everyone, however each day a different group is scheduled to take part – based on their connection to the Holy Father – with the Cardinals in Rome setting the schedule.
The first day of the Novemdiales was marked with the funeral Mass in St Peter’s Square.
The second day was on Sunday, 27 April, Divine Mercy Sunday, also in St Peter’s Square. The Mass was presided by 70-year old Italian-born Cardinal Peitro Parolin who served as Secretary of State under Pope Francis. They key group who took part were the employees and the faithful of Vatican City.
In his homily, Cardinal Parolin said the image in the day’s Gospel of the fear and sadness of the Apostoles as they huddled in the Upper Room After Jesus’ death, was not unlike the current feeling in the Church as Christians mourn the late Pope.
“The grief at his departure, the sense of sadness that assails us, the turmoil we feel in our hearts, the sense of bewilderment,” he said, “we are experiencing all of this, like the Apostles grieving over the death of Jesus.”
Cardinal Parolin said Christ comes precisely in this darkness to reveal Himself in the glory of His resurrection and illumine our hearts.
“Pope Francis reminded us of this since his election and often repeated it to us, placing at the centre of his pontificate that joy of the Gospel,” he said.
Many young people were present at the second Novemdiales Mass, which took place during the scheduled Jubilee for Teenagers.
Recalling the Feast of Divine Mercy, the Cardinal said Pope Francis’ teaching put great emphasis on God’s mercy, which has no limits and works to raise us up and renew us.
Mercy, Cardinal Parolin said, “takes us back to the heart of faith,” and helps us interpret our relationship with God and our identity as the Church according to God’s categories, rather than those of the world.
“Only mercy heals and creates a new world, putting out the fires of distrust, hatred, and violence: This is the great teaching of Pope Francis,” Parolin said.
“Pope Francis was a shining witness of a Church that bends down with tenderness toward those who are wounded and heals with the balm of mercy,” he added.
The third day of the Novemdiales will be presided by Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, and the group will be the Church of Rome. It will be in St Peter’s as will all the following masses until the ninth day, Sunday, May 4.