Senior Catholic priest passes away

Kolkata: City

Catholic

priest, Monsignor Francis Gomes, who was the last to have been embellished with that title by the Papacy, died at Vianney Home on Middleton Row around 1.30am on Thursday . He was 82. The senior

priest

was honoured with the title of Monsignor by Pope John Paul II for his exemplary contribution to the field of education in the archdiocese of Kolkata.

The funeral will take place on Friday at St John’s

Church

Sealdah after the holy mass. Only 60 people will be allowed to attend it physically because of the pandemic. Others can join it virtually, said vicar general, Dominic Gomes. Msgr Gomes was born in Asansol in 1938 and became a priest in 1965. In his initial years, he had worked tirelessly in Midnapore to spread English education.