Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on the morning of Monday, April 21.  

As a sign of respect, the Catholic churches in Port McNeill and Port Alice rang their church tower bells 88 times, once for every year of Pope Francis’ life.  

The single bell in Port McNeill was rung at 12 noon on Monday and the two bells in the combined church of St. Theresa’s and St. John’s in Port Alice – jointly used by the Roman Catholics, the Anglicans and the United Church – were rung at 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon. 

In Port Alice a few of the locals, including a couple of the youngsters, were on hand to help out with the rung tribute.   

Prayers will be offered for the Pope next weekend at all the Catholic Masses in the north of the Island, particularly thanking God for all the service that Pope Francis gave to the Catholic Church and beyond.