A Requiem Mass will be held to honour Pope Francis following his death.

Southampton City Centre Catholic Parish, based at St Edmund's, The Avenue, will hold the service on Saturday at 11am.

The mass will coincide with the Pope's funeral in Rome.

The parish said it will be a chance for the community to remember a man who "changed not only the Church but also the world more broadly".

Everyone is welcome to attend, regardless of religious affiliation.

Ryan Hawkes, from the Southampton City Centre Catholic Parish, said: "It will be a good opportunity, on the same day as his funeral in Rome, for the community to come together to remember a man who changed not only the Church but also the world more broadly.

"All are welcome at the Mass, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and St Edmund's is open every day from dawn to dusk for those who would like to say a prayer and light a candle."

It comes as the leader of Catholics in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, said organisers of what will be an enormous gathering of well-known names “are geniuses at dealing with these big events”.

In an interview with the PA news agency in Rome, the Archbishop of Westminster said the funeral will be “without a doubt another masterpiece of stage management when you consider those state leaders who have high opinions of their importance”.