The Death of Pope Francis

Dear Parish Family,

With deep sorrow and profound gratitude, I write to you today on the occasion of the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis.  The news of his death touches each of us in a deeply personal way, as we mourn not only the successor of St. Peter, but a shepherd who inspired the world with his humility, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pope Francis reminded us again and again that the heart of the Church is mercy.  He showed us what it means to walk with the poor, to welcome the outcast, to care for creation, and to open wide the doors to our hearts.  Whether through his words or his gestures – embracing the sick, washing the feet of prisoners, calling us to encounter – he was a living example of Christ among us.

We grieve, yes, but not without hope.  Pope Francis lived and preached the joy of the Resurrection.  His final days, like his entire papacy, were marked by trust in the loving providence of God.  Let us now entrust his soul to the One he served so faithfully.  May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

In the coming days we will offer times of prayer for the repose of his soul.  I invite you to remember him, to give thanks for his life, and to ask the Holy Spirit to guide the Church as we prepare for the election of a new pope.

Let us pray:

Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

In Christ’s Peace,

Fr. Tom