Statement on the Death of Pope Francis

Statement on the Death of Pope Francis
By Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester
 
We are all saddened to hear of the death of our Holy Father on this Easter Monday. I join my prayers to those of Catholics worldwide that God welcome him into eternal life. 

For 12 years as our Holy Father, Pope Francis consistently preached to the world that one of the key tenets of being a follower of Jesus Christ is to accompany others who seek God's love. 

The beauty of the Catholic faith is like a multifaceted diamond. Each pope brings a focus on one of the facets through which we can deepen our appreciation of our faith and the mission to which we are called. His focus was on the pastoral facet, best understood when we hear his name in Spanish: Papa Francisco. He taught us all to accompany our brothers and sisters, whether in the mainstream or on the periphery of society, so that they may experience God's love through our own love for them.

It is fitting that we will commend him to Almighty God in this Jubilee Year of Hope. Perhaps his greatest legacy is that, as the Vicar of Christ, he focused this Jubilee Year on the reality that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which we just celebrated this Easter, is the key to hope for eternal life in the loving presence of God. May he now rest in the peace of God's love. Amen.
April 21, 2025