Bishop Erik Pohlmeier to lead memorial mass Thursday for Pope Francis in Jacksonville

FILE - Pope Francis arrives to celebrate an Epiphany Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Jan. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File) (Andrew Medichini, Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Bishop Erik Pohlmeier of the Diocese of St. Augustine is leading a memorial mass for Pope Francis on Thursday in Jacksonville.

The mass will be held at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jacksonville at 11757 Old St. Augustine Road.

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“His words and witness resonated with people from every background, drawing many people to reflect on the presence of God in their own lives,” Pohlmeier said of Pope Francis.

The pope died on Easter Monday, just hours after greeting thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square after Easter Mass.

He suffered from pneumonia as well as other issues and spent more than five weeks in the hospital.

According to the Vatican, his cause of death was a stroke and heart failure.

The pope’s body was taken into St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday to lie in state so that people could pay their respects.

Local Memorial Event

When: 6 p.m. Thursday

Where: 11757 Old St. Augustine Road

Mass celebrated by: Bishop Erik Pohlmeier