Dear Friends,
By now, many of you will be aware of the death of Pope Francis RIP this morning.
The Church will remain open today for a time of prayer with Holy Hour at 2pm and Evening Prayer at 6pm taken from the Office for the Dead.
On Friday, 25th April at 7 pm, we will offer Mass for the Repose of the Soul of Pope Francis.
Cardinal Vincent has written to the people of the Diocese, please see extract below.
The Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales published the prayer below today on the occasion of the Holy Father’s passing.
May God bless you all and fill your hearts with faith and knowledge of the resurrection and the life to come with Christ our Risen Lord, which is our Easter Joy.
Fr Mehall
O God, faithful rewarder of souls,
grant that your departed servant Pope Francis,
whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of your Church,
may happily enjoy for ever in your presence in heaven the mysteries of your grace and compassion,
which he faithfully ministered on earth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Dear Fathers, dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
the death of Pope Francis brings great sadness to so many around the world, among Catholics, other Christians and in society in general. A voice proclaiming the innate dignity of every human being, especially those who are poor or marginalised, is now silent. The legacy he leaves is one we must seek to carry forward and strengthen.
Pope Francis was called to priesthood through his experience of the mercy and compassion of God. This remained the core of his ministry, as Priest, Bishop and Pontiff. Only in understanding the love and mercy of God towards each one of us can we fashion societies and communities that bear the mark of the ‘kingdom of God’.
This same focus and emphasis lay at this desire to see membership of the Church as being rooted in ‘missionary discipleship’, a dynamic and powerful vision for every Christian and every community.
Now we pray for the repose of his soul, that he may know, in full measure, the merciful and loving embrace of the Father, of the one God to whom he gave his life in unstinting service.
+Vincent
Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Archbishop of Westminster