Farewell and final mass for Archbishop Richard Smith in Edmonton

Archbishop Richard Smith shares his observations regarding his trip to Rome, in Edmonton on Monday ,April 4, 2022. Pope Francis, who is hospitalized in critical condition with double pneumonia, has named a new archbishop for Vancouver. The Vancouver archdiocese says the pope appointed Archbishop Richard Smith and accepted the resignation of J. Michael Miller.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Farewell events for Archbishop Richard Smith were held in Edmonton on Thursday.

Archbishop Smith served as the Archdiocese of Edmonton for 18 years, with May 1 marking his anniversary of being appointed as the seventh Archbishop of Edmonton.

Interviews and an open house were held at the Newman Theological College on Thursday afternoon, giving local Catholics an opportunity to say goodbye.

A last mass with Archbishop Smith will be held at 7 p.m. and livestreamed online for those who cannot attend in person.

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His formal installation as Archbishop of Vancouver will take place on May 23 at 8 p.m. local time.

Pope Francis made the new appointment in February, before he died last month.

A successor for Pope Francis has not yet been chosen.