Shraddhanjali Ceremony at Kelarai Church for Pope Francis and Pahalgam Martyrs

Kelarai, Mangaluru: A Shraddhanjali (tribute) ceremony was held on April 25, 2025, at 5:30 PM at the Kelarai Church Hall to honor the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis and the martyrs who lost their lives in the recent terrorist attack at Pahalgam, Kashmir.

Addressing the gathering, chief guest Mr. M.G. Hegde remarked, “The essence of all religions is the same. Those who truly understand this essence can never become extremists. Pope Francis recognized this universal truth and often spoke about leaders like Narayana Guru at interfaith conferences. Both desired and worked for world peace.”

In his presidential address, Father Sylvester D’Costa, Parish Priest of Kelarai Church, said, “Pope Francis was the true embodiment of Jesus Christ. He cared deeply for the poor and suffering, responded compassionately to the pain of the downtrodden, carried messages of peace to war-torn regions, called for environmental protection through his encyclical Laudato Si’, and lived as a beacon of hope and inspiration for all.”
Father Sylvester D’Costa also led the prayer rituals for the repose of Pope Francis’s soul.

In front of the church, distinguished personalities and members of various faith communities from the locality gathered to light candles and offer prayers for the souls of the Pahalgam martyrs.

The event was organized under the leadership of Mr. Santosh D’Costa, Vice President of the Church Administration Committee.

On stage were Mr. Sridhar, President of the Gram Panchayat; Ms. Celine D’Mello, Secretary of the Church Administration Committee; Mr. A.M. Sheikh Haidar, President of Bittupade Mosque; and Father Roshan Fernandes.

The event commenced with a short documentary on the life of Pope Francis, presented by Ms. Irene Rego.

Father Sylvester D’Costa also read and conveyed a message from the President of the Mangalore Catholic Diocese, stating: “We strongly condemn the incident in Kashmir. The government must ensure the severest punishment for the perpetrators. We pray for eternal peace for the departed souls and offer our heartfelt condolences to their families.”

The ceremony concluded with a collective prayer for peace, joined by all the attendees from different faiths, honoring the memory of both Pope Francis and the Pahalgam martyrs.