Koekelberg Basilica to hold memorial service for Pope Francis on Thursday

A memorial mass for Pope Francis is to be held in Koekelberg Basilica in Brussels on Thursday at 19.00, reports Bruzz.

The service at the national church will be presided over by the primate of Belgium, Archbishop Luc Terlinden.

Following the death of the head of the Catholic church on Monday, the bells of the Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula rang out and flags above religious, national and European buildings have been flying at half-mast. A condolence book has been placed in every cathedral around the country.

In a tribute to the 266th Argentinian pope, the Belgian Bishops’ Conference said: “His pontificate was characterised by simplicity, proximity to the poor and a powerful appeal to mercy and social justice.”

The bishops recalled with gratitude Pope Francis’ visit to Belgium in September 2024, when “he gave the employees of the Church in Belgium three key words: evangelisation, joy and mercy.”

Archbishop Terlinden praised Francis for his commitment to peace and to the challenges facing the church. “He took a lot of time during his visit to our country to meet the victims of sexual abuse and really listen to them," he said. "That was a sign for us as a Belgian church to go even further in our politics against sexual abuse in the church."

Among tributes by politicians and community organisations, the Muslim Executive of Belgium said Pope Francis was "a bridge builder between communities" and "a spiritual leader who worked tirelessly for peace, justice and humanity".

The representative of the Muslim community added. “Until his last days, he spoke with deep compassion about the suffering of innocent people in Gaza and Ukraine. His call for peace, his compassion for the oppressed and his plea for dialogue transcended religious and cultural boundaries.”

Photo: Pope Francis at Koekelberg Basilica September 2024 ©Belga/Nicolas Maeterlinck