“Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21)
His death marks the end of a papacy that transformed the hearts of millions and left an indelible mark on the Catholic Church.
As we reflect on his life and death, we turn to the words of Sacred Scripture for comfort, remembering that he now enters into the eternal joy promised to all who faithfully follow Christ.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected to the papacy in 2013 and quickly became a figure of hope for a world in desperate need of healing.
His papacy was defined by a message of mercy, compassion, and social justice. He reached out to the margins of society, challenging both the Church and the world to care for the poor, the outcast, and the forgotten.
His words were often simple but profound, always urging Christians to live the Gospel in concrete ways, to build bridges rather than walls, and to show Christ’s love in action.
In his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis taught us the importance of caring for creation, reminding us that the Earth is not merely a resource to be exploited but a gift entrusted to us by God. His concern for the environment was not merely political but spiritual, recognising that the health of our planet is inextricably linked to our moral and spiritual well-being.
In his call for global solidarity, he echoed the words of Christ: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). He knew that the Christian vocation requires us to see the world through the eyes of Christ, to recognise the dignity of every person and to work for justice and peace.
As we grieve Pope Francis' death, we find consolation in the hope of the Resurrection. Jesus himself assured us: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). Pope Francis, like all of us, has experienced the human condition in its fullness, from joy to suffering, from triumph to failure, from health to sickness. Yet he always sought to unite his suffering with that of Christ, trusting in the promise of eternal life.
Now, Pope Francis has passed through the gates of death, and by the grace of God, he enters into the fullness of life with the Lord he loved and served so faithfully.
In this moment of sorrow, we also recognise that death is not the end, but a passage into eternal life. Pope Francis himself often reminded us that Christian hope is centred on the reality of the Resurrection, where we will be united with Christ forever in glory.
He lived his life in the light of that hope, and today, he enters into that glory, surrounded by the saints and angels in the heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis, and for the grace to follow his example of humility, mercy, and love. May we continue his mission of spreading the Gospel, caring for the poor, and striving for peace and justice in a world that so desperately needs it.
As we honour his memory, let us commit ourselves anew to living as faithful disciples of Christ, always seeking to build His Kingdom here on earth.
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
Pope Francis laid down his life for the sheep, following in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Now, he is at rest in the arms of the Father, and we pray that his soul is received into eternal peace.
Prayer:
Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
Amen.
May the example of his life continue to inspire us,
and may we, like him, be faithful servants of Christ
in all that we do,
until we too are called to enter into the joy of our Master.
Amen.