Baghdad: A special mass will be held in Baghdad next Friday to honor the passing of Pope Francis. The Chaldean Patriarchate is organizing the mass for the repose of the soul of the late Pope Francis, which will take place at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in the Karrada district at 11:00 a.m.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Patriarchate released a statement on Tuesday evening detailing that His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako initially intended to lead the mass himself on Friday, April 25. However, due to his travel commitments to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis and the election of the next pope, it was decided that Chaldean priests would lead the mass. The service will be conducted by Monsignor Charles Suna, Charg© d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Baghdad, alongside nuns and a congregation of citizens.

The statement also mentioned that another official mass would be organized upon Cardinal Sako’s return from the Vatican, with invitations extended to officials to attend.