Memorial Mass Honoring Pope Francis Held in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (April 25, 2025)— Nearly 800 faithful gathered at Guardian Angel Cathedral on Friday, April 25 for a Memorial Mass honoring the life and legacy of Pope Francis. Presided over by the Archbishop George Leo Thomas, Ph.D., Archbishop of Las Vegas, the liturgy was marked by reverence, gratitude, and deep reflection on the Holy Father’s enduring impact on the global Church and the local faithful alike.

The Memorial Mass, held the day before the Funeral in Rome for the deceased Pope, drew clergy, religious, and laity from across the Archdiocese. The Cathedral was filled with tourists and locals alike, wishing to pay their respects and offer prayers for the repose of the Holy Father’s soul.

In his homily, Archbishop Thomas delivered a moving tribute to Pope Francis, recounting his early life, his spiritual formation as a Jesuit, and his pastoral heart which shaped a papacy marked by humility, mercy, and advocacy for the marginalized.

“From the outset of his pontificate,” the Archbishop said, “he enjoined all the faithful to embrace the Beatitudes as the spiritual lodestar of their daily lives.” Quoting Saint Augustine, he added, “Our words speak, but our example cries out.”

The Archbishop highlighted the significance of Pope Francis’ first apostolic journey to Lampedusa, his encyclicals Laudato Si and Fratelli Tutti, and his firm commitment to ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, including his public stand against antisemitism and religious division. “In doing so,” Archbishop Thomas said, “Pope Francis left the world a better place.”

Reflecting on the Pope’s vision for a Church that listens and serves, Archbishop Thomas quoted Evangelii Gaudium: “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from clinging to its own security.”

All were invited for a dessert reception next door at the Archdiocese Chancery. All were invited to sign a memorial book in Guardian Angel Cathedral, remembering Pope Francis. The Funeral Mass for Pope Francis was held on April 26, 2025 in Rome.