Pope Francis remembered in South West

Catholic churches across the South West will be honouring Pope Francis at the weekend

Catholic communities across the South West are remembering Pope Francis on the day of his funeral.

Pope Francis died at 07:35 local time on Monday after a final public appearance for an Easter Sunday blessing at the Vatican's St Peter's Square. His funeral is at 09:00 BST.

Canon Mark O'Keeffe, Dean of Plymouth Cathedral, said there had been an "extraordinary outpouring of love and affection" since his death.

Plymouth's Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Boniface, the Catholic cathedral for Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, has been celebrating Requiem Masses (Masses for the Dead) every day for nine days.

Canon Mark O'Keefe says the Cathedral is in the midst of nine days of masses in honour of the Pope

The sixth mass, which is being live streamed, is planned to coincide with the service in Rome.

Canon O'Keeffe said other churches across the region had also planned services in memory of the Pope and there had been a "constant trickle'" of people arriving to pay their respects throughout the week.

"There will be masses across the South West and the country, with every church including prayers for the Pope," he said.

"The Pope was such an extraordinary character, a man of peace who had such an amazing impact on the world.

"All the Catholic cathedrals in the country were asked to celebrate nine masses to coincide with the nine days of mourning, specifically for him and the journey he's making to God the father."