Hundreds pay respect to Pope Francis at service in Saskatoon

It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning in Saskatoon, as a few hundred people filed into the Cathedral of the Holy Family to pay their respect to Pope Francis.

Before people made it into the church, they were greeted by three flags outside, which were at half mast.

The mast period ended following sunset on April 26, 2025. (Will Mandzuk/650CKOM)

Piano and choir singing filled the air, while the sun shone through the stained glass, lighting up the room.

Once the memorial mass service got underway, people were silent, listening to every word the bishop said.

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Despite various health issues and an extended hospital stay this year, the Pope’s passing still came as a shock to the Catholic community.

The Pope died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. He was widely considered the Pope for the people, with the people.

But on Saturday, as thousands gathered in Vatican City and hundreds gathered in Saskatoon, the people were with the Pope.

Sandi Harper, who was at the service, described it as a wonderful memorial for a tremendous man.

“I really enjoyed the eulogy, it was very well done,” she said. “Our Pope was the most wonderful, down-to-earth man you could ever imagine so we’re going to miss him immensely.”

Harper said attending this service was important to her and knew it was something she had to do.

“I wanted to come because I feel a connection to the type of human he was,” she said. “That’s the kind of human I would like to be, he exemplifies what I want to be as a Christian.”

A couple hundred people gathered at the Cathedral of Holy Family, for a memorial mass service to pay respect to Pope Francis. (Will Mandzuk/650CKOM)

Crystal Hampson also attended the service and said it was very well done.

“It was really nice, I really appreciated the words the bishop had to say,” she said. “It was nice to be able to get together and commemorate.”

Hampson said she would remember Pope Francis as a pope who cared for everyone.

“I saw somebody talk about him as the Pope of mercy, and I think that really captures him,” she said.

Hampson also knew she wanted to attend the memorial mass to be able to say goodbye one last time to the Pope.

“I can’t get to Rome for the big celebrations they’re having there,” she said. “So it’s nice to be able to gather with the other people who are feeling the same way I am, and just to have a moment to reflect and to remember the Pope.”

Now, around 135 cardinals will vote on who the next pope should be; whoever is selected has to get two-thirds of the votes.