Hundreds attend Requiem Mass for Pope Francis at Rubaga Cathedral

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Hundreds of Christians gathered at Rubaga Cathedral in Kampala on Friday to attend a Requiem Mass for the late Pope Francis.

The mass was officiated by Pope Nuncio to Uganda, Luigi Bianco, who was assisted by Dr. Joseph Anthony Zziwa, the chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, former Nuncio Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, and Tororo Diocese Archbishop Emmanuel Obbo.

The faithful were joined by Vice President Jessica Alupo, along with other dignitaries, including Members of Parliament, ambassadors, and various political leaders.

Pope Funeral on Saturday

Pope Francis, an energetic reformer who inspired widespread devotion from Catholics but riled traditionalists, died on Monday, aged 88.

The Argentine pontiff, leader of the Catholic Church since March 2013, spent 38 days being treated for double pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli hospital before seeming to recover and leaving the facility on March 23.

His death came just a day after he delighted the crowds of worshippers at the Vatican on Easter Sunday with an appearance on the balcony at Saint Peter's Basilica.

On Friday, the Vatican said 150,000 people had already paid their respects to the late pope, whose body has been lying in state in St Peter's Basilica ahead of his funeral on Saturday.

Saturday's funeral is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims as well as world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as Britain's Prince William.

Afterwards, Francis's coffin will be taken to his favourite church, Rome's papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where it will be interred in the ground and marked by a simple inscription: Franciscus.
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Vice President Jessica Alupo delivering her speech after the mass... After, she posed for a photo with the prelates who led the mass.