Pope Francis: Hong Kong Catholic Church holds condolence service, requiem mass for late pontiff
The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong has announced that a condolence service will be held until Saturday for the late Pope Francis, followed by a requiem mass next Monday.
Seen as a radical pontiff and champion of the underdogs, Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88.
Francis, dubbed 'the people's pope,' suffered a stroke and subsequent heart failure, according to the Vatican.
Hong Kong's remembrance service began on Tuesday and will continue until 4pm at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Mid-Levels. Members of the public can sign a book of condolence at the church.
The requiem mass will begin at 8pm next Monday at the same venue.
'Committed to world peace'
In a Monday statement from the Hong Kong diocese, Cardinal Stephen Chow expressed 'his deepest condolences.'
'Pope Francis had been committed to promoting inter-religious dialogue and world peace, and he was determined to reform the Holy See, such as allowing the participation of women at the decision-making level. He was respected and loved by the faithful during his pontificate,' the statement said.
China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun paid tribute to the pontiff on Tuesday.
'In recent years, China and the Vatican have maintained constructive contact and engaged in beneficial exchanges,' he said. 'The Chinese side is willing to work together with the Vatican to promote the continued improvement of China-Vatican relations.'
The Holy See and the atheist Chinese Communist Party have a tumultuous relationship, with disagreements over who appoints the country's Catholic bishops.
Vatican City has not had formal ties with China since 1951. It remains one of the few territories that recognises the sovereignty of self-governing Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own.
Despite China's constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion, Catholics are only permitted to worship under the direction of the Patriotic Catholic Association, which does not recognise the authority of the Vatican.
The election of a new pope usually begins 15 to 20 days after the death of the pontiff. Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, including Hong Kong's Cardinal Chow.
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