It was with great sadness that the world heard on Monday morning of the death of Pope Francis. Here in The Diocese of Ferns we share in the sorrow of the church and indeed in the grief of many outside the church at the passing of somebody who carried a message of Hope for the whole human race.
During his twelve years of ministry as Pope the world experienced many changes. The Covid pandemic highlighted our frailty as human beings in spite of all the developments in modern medicine. It also highlighted our interdependence and the equal vulnerability of rich and poor alike. The challenge of care for the planet, our common home, became more clearly urgent and the certainties of traditional media and stable political systems were eroded faster than we expected. In this time of great change Pope Francis invited us to carry a message of hope to the whole world and he showed us how to do this by his own engagement with people.
His greatest gift to the church he leaves behind will be the gift of Synodality. He believed that God will speak and direct the church in the future through conversations between people in the power of the Holy Spirit. May Pope Francis’ generous spirit continue to guide the church and may he be rewarded with eternal rest for his long labour in the Vineyard of the Lord.