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From Archbishop Nolan

“I share the sense of loss of millions of people around the globe at the passing of Pope Francis. Sadness is our first and most natural reaction at a time like this.
“The whole Church, and indeed the wider world should be very grateful to God for the gift of this Pope. Although his pontificate has been controversial at times it has been a blessing for the Church and for wider society.
“He will be remembered for many things … but his emphasis on the great love and mercy of God and his reminder to the Church that it should always bring God's mercy and love to all was perhaps his most repeated call.
“He did not see the Church as a tribunal sitting in judgement of the world, but rather what he called a ‘field hospital’ tending to the wounds and hurts of human beings.
“When he visited the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome shortly after his election, he called out to the priests in the confessionals, ‘Mercy. Forgive everyone. Always mercy …’ and that was his trademark message.
“He used his ability to speak to people in a language they understood to great effect. That partly explains his huge popularity. He had no pomposity or sense of superiority about him, indeed he was forever asking people to pray for him.
“His constant call to governments and individuals to care for the earth, our common home, was a key strand of his message. Another was the ever-timely call to welcome the refugee and asylum seeker, and to recognise the human dignity of the poor and less fortunate.
“I remember his powerful exhortation to us … when we give alms to someone who is begging on the streets, not to casually toss a coin in their direction, but to get down to their level, to look them in the eye, to touch their hand and to express care and fraternal love.
“He was the Pope of mercy, the Pope of welcome and the Pope of the environment.
“He lived his life with faith in God. May God now welcome him into eternal life.”
+William Nolan
Archbishop of Glasgow

From the British Jesuit Province

With heavy hearts, the Jesuits in Britain mourn the death of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, whose leadership has profoundly shaped the Church in our time. His formation within the Society of Jesus instilled in him a gift of discernment, a sense of closeness to God, and a deep commitment to serving the marginalised and the voiceless, which he embodied throughout his ministry.

At the heart of Pope Francis's message was the joy of the Gospel. As he shared in Evangelii Gaudium, “the joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness, and loneliness.”  This vision will continue to resonate deeply with us, reminding us that true joy comes from our relationship with God and one another.

He consistently advocated for the dignity of the poor and vulnerable, urging us to be “men and women for others.” His encyclical, Laudato Si’, has inspired us to care for our common home, calling us to confront the ecological crisis with both urgency and compassion—a teaching that has been vital for our Province and has inspired our own commitment to sustainable practices.

In his quest for unity, Pope Francis built bridges between religions, as well as fostering good ecumenical relations. His meetings with leaders across denominations, including the last Archbishop of Canterbury, and the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in 2019 demonstrate his belief in the transformative power of dialogue and peace, so needed in today’s world.

He showed pastoral courage in facing up to the worldwide sexual abuse crisis, his encouragement to embrace solidarity and advocate for fair vaccine access during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his demand that the dignity of refugees and migrants be respected. He also championed the crucial contribution which young people have to make to the life of the Church, encouraging their active participation through events like World Youth Day.

As a Jesuit, Pope Francis placed discernment at the heart of his papacy, emphasising that the believer’s journey is not only a matter of adhering to rules but also about seeking to hear God’s personal call to us. He embraced a pastoral style marked by accompaniment, attentively observing how God’s Spirit works among the faithful, especially those at the peripheries, and urged us to recognise the presence of the Lord in the signs of the times.

In this moment of profound grief, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and to all who mourn him. We give thanks to God for the gift of his life and ministry, and for the countless ways he has inspired us to deepen our faith and live out our call to love and serve one another. We invite all to join us in prayer for the repose of his soul.

Gracious God, may our hearts be transformed by Pope Francis’s example. Inspire us to carry forward his vision of a more just and compassionate world. As we reflect on the profound impact of his life and teachings, remind us of our sacred call to be instruments of change and reconciliation in our communities and in our world. Amen.

In the peace of Christ,

The Jesuits in Britain

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He is risen!
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