Charlotte Catholic Churches to Honor Pope Francis

Pope Francis passed away on Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed this morning.

In response, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte will host a prayer service tonight, from 7 to 8 p.m., at all 93 of its churches.

A larger mass will be held at Saint Mark’s in Huntersville on Wednesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. to honor Pope Francis’ life. The church is located at 14740 Stumptown Road.

The global Catholic community is entering a period of nine days of official mourning, with observances varying worldwide.

Bishop Michael Martin, speaking to reporters, noted the Diocese of Charlotte, which serves 530,000 Catholics across western North Carolina, will join in this period of reflection and remembrance.

The Charlotte metro area has approximately a seven percent Catholic population, according to Pew Research.