Cork city and Cobh cathedrals to open books of condolence for Pope

Books of condolence will be open in cathedrals in Cork city and Cobh in advance of the funeral of Pope Francis, which is to be held in Rome on Saturday morning.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Cork and Ross said the book of condolence would be open in the Cathedral of St Mary and Anne from 8am to 5pm daily, while a book of condolence is also being opened in St Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh, the seat of the Diocese of Cloyne.

County Cork mayor, Joe Carroll, and chief executive Moira Murrell, will be opening a book of condolence to allow visitors express their sympathy on the death of the late pontiff in County Hall on the Carrigrohane Road on Friday morning.

Cobh-based priest, Fr Aquin Casey, spoke to The Echo ahead of his trip to Rome for the funeral. 

Fr Casey had planned a week long holiday in the Eternal City and he now intends to pay his respects to Pope Francis whose remains will be lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica until Friday evening.

“My plan is hopefully to get to see the Holy Father at some stage on Friday and even if means queuing for five or six hours, I don’t think I have any problem with that, to be honest with you,” said Fr Casey.

“I was going for the canonisation of St Carlo Acutis on Sunday but that’s obviously been postponed,” he said.

“I’m very blessed to be going.” 

Cardinals, bishops and priests from throughout the world will be concelebrating the Funeral in St Peter’s Square on Saturday .

Fr Casey, said, he would be in the crowd. “The chances of getting to concelebrate would be one in several million I’d say,” he remarked.