La Crosse Diocese plans Thursday memorial mass for Pope Francis

Two days before the actual funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, the Diocese of La Crosse will hold a mass in his memory.

Thursday’s midday mass at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral will be led by La Crosse Bishop Gerard Battersby, who was appointed to the post a year ago by the Pope.

Francis was 88 years old when he died Monday, after serving 12 years as head of the Catholic Church.

The La Crosse Diocese said all are welcome for the cathedral mass, “Catholic or not.”

The service is scheduled from 12:10 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. at the downtown cathedral.

The mass also will be livestreamed on the diocese website. The official funeral mass for the pope will happen at the Vatican on Saturday.