Condolences, tributes and reflections on Pope Francis

Cardinal Nichols pays tribute to a Pope who loved those on the peripheries

For full details please see the Catholic Church in England and Wales website.

Pope Francis RIP

It was with deep sadness that we woke to the news that Pope Francis has died and we share in the sense of loss of millions of people across the world. It is a consolation to us that he went to the LORD on Easter Monday and the great Easter Day as a sort of first fruits of the salvation which the Risen Christ shares with His Church.

We thank GOD for the Pope’s service which was always human and humble in its informal style and with a message of GOD’s universal love and unconditional mercy that brought hope to so many.

A man of the poor who lived simply, Pope Francis was a voice for the voiceless and all those who find themselves on the margins in our world. A man of peace, he called the Church to listen to everyone, to move forward together as a family, to find a conciliatory approach to those of different beliefs and lifestyles, for an end to conflicts across the world and for the care of Creation as GOD’s precious gift to humanity.

He gave of himself to the end, offering up his final illness with serenity, his last acts being to visit Rome’s prison on Holy Thursday and to wish the crowds gathered in Saint Peter’s a Happy Easter.

We pray he will be enjoying the full fruits of the Resurrection, resting from his work, his good deeds going with him.

May he rest in peace.

Bishop John Keenan

Please see the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland website.

Pope Francis: A Personal Reflection on a Remarkable Life

Writing in the Daily Express, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell offers a personal reflection on the life and witness of His Holiness, Pope Francis.

Easter Monday was a profoundly sad day as we begin to mourn the passing of Pope Francis—a man who, for me and for many around the world, embodied humility, hope, and humanity.

I had the privilege of meeting him on a few occasions, and each encounter left a lasting impression. A couple of years ago, during one of our conversations, he said to me, “We must walk together, work together, and pray together.” That simple phrase has stayed with me. It wasn’t just a soundbite—it captured his entire approach to leadership and faith. He saw the Church, not as an institution that had arrived, but as a people on a journey together.

Pope Francis brought to the Catholic Church the idea of synodality from the Greek word meaning “walking together.” He imagined a Church that listens, that learns, and that moves forward not as individuals, but as a community. And that vision reached far beyond Catholicism. As an Anglican Archbishop, I saw how his example encouraged unity, not division, among all of us who seek to live lives of faith, compassion, and service.

Just a few weeks ago, King Charles and Queen Camilla met him, a sign of the close and respectful relationship between the Anglican and Roman Catholic traditions. Pope Francis deeply valued unity not only between churches, but among all people of goodwill.

What stood out most to me was Pope Francis’s humanity. I expected a brief handshake when I first met with him. Instead, he welcomed me warmly, sat me down, and we spoke for half an hour.  At the end of our conversation, we prayed the Lord’s Prayer together. I’ve said that prayer thousands of times, but sitting beside him, the words “our Father” resonated in me and in that moment, I understood in a deeper way what it means to belong to one another.

His ministry was marked by service to the poor, tireless work for peace, and an insistence that faith is for everyone. Even in his final days, he was still serving, still blessing, still praying.

Pope Francis changed how many of us think about faith, leadership, and unity. I believe his legacy will continue to shape the Church—and the world—for years to come.

Please see the Archbishop of York’s website.

A prayer for Pope Francis

A prayer following the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, giving thanks for his life of ministry.

Father in heaven, we praise your name
for all who have finished this life loving and trusting you,
for the example of their lives,
the life and grace you gave them
and the peace in which they rest.
We praise you today for your servant Francis
and for all that you did through him.
Meet us in our sadness
and fill our hearts with praise and thanksgiving,
for the sake of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.

Into your hands, O merciful Saviour,
we commend your servant Francis.
Acknowledge, we pray, a sheep of your own fold,
a lamb of your own flock,
a sinner of your own redeeming.
Enfold him in the arms of your mercy,
in the blessed rest of everlasting peace
and in the glorious company of the saints in light.

Amen.

Please see the Church of England website.

Condolences on the Death of Pope Francis from The Most Rev John McDowell, the Church of Ireland’s Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh

The Most Rev John McDowell, the Church of Ireland’s Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh, has issued the following statement on the announcement of the death of Pope Francis:

I wish to extend my sympathy on behalf of the Church of Ireland to Archbishop Eamon Martin and to the Roman Catholic people of Ireland on the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. Pope Francis was invested not only with his share in the official magisterium of the Church he served so joyfully, but also with a natural, self–authenticating authority which was the fruit of a deep devotion to God and an equally deep commitment to the service of all of the people of God.

Pope Francis’ respect for every person, wherever they may have found themselves on life’s pilgrimage, was a powerful witness to the plenitude of God’s grace, given as a gift to the world in His Son. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” and it was the whole world which expressed the magnitude of God’s love. Pope Francis’ brotherly affection for Christian people of all traditions, and for the whole of humanity, was worked out in practical action, particularly around the great defining issue for this era – the care of God’s creation.

In at least two of Pope Francis’ Encyclicals – Laudato si’ and Fratelli tutti – he confronted the whole of humankind, believers and non–believers alike, with the scale of the challenges we face but also with an outline of the solidarity and the resources needed to tackle these challenges. It is difficult not to draw parallels with that other unlikely iconoclast Pope John XXIII in his involved goodness that had little time for an aloof and cool virtue which had no redemptive power in it. Laudato si’ in particular stands out as an historic and prophetic oracle.

Pope Francis was manifestly a modest man of immovable faith who felt no need to cling frantically onto old certainties which no longer served God or His People. Drawing from the deep well of Scriptural resources acquired during a lifetime in the Ignatian tradition, Pope Francis was prepared to step out into a very unclear future in the company of Jesus Christ, which is “far better than a known way”.

His loss will be felt very keenly throughout the Catholic world and my prayers in the coming weeks will be for all who are bereaved and diminished by the passing of a great man and a humble disciple of our common Lord, especially my brothers and sisters in Christ on the island of Ireland.

Please see the Church of Ireland website.

Tribute as Pope Francis dies

In response to the news from the Vatican that His Holiness Pope Francis has died, the Moderator has made the following statement:

May I express my condolences to the Catholic Church in Scotland following the news of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. We recall with gratitude the hospitality extended by His Holiness to representatives of the Church of Scotland and also the occasion of the Ecumenical Pilgrimage of Peace made by Pope Francis to South Sudan in the company of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2023.

In recalling his contribution to Christian witness, we hear renewed the call made by His Holiness in Laudato si’ to care for the earth as our common home, and in Fratelli tutti to discover the presence of Christ in each human being. We join with all Christian people in the prayer of Pope Francis:

Grant that we Christians may live the Gospel,
discovering Christ in each human being,
recognizing him crucified
in the sufferings of the abandoned
and forgotten of our world,
and risen in each brother or sister
who makes a new start.
Amen.

May the blessed memory of Francis continue to serve as an example to the faithful people of God in our shared pilgrimage and in our common task of caring for God’s creation. May he rest in peace.

Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson

Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

Please see the Church of Scotland website.

Pope Francis: a man of courage, a man of humour, a man of God

Very Rev Dr Derek Browning, who was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2017 – 2018, recalls with fondness his meeting with Pope Francis in 2017.

A few hours before he died Pope Francis was on the balcony at the Vatican wishing everyone a Happy Easter. Wheel-chair-bound and visibly frail, Francis managed to speak the words that gave him, and many others, something of the joy and reassurance that faith can bring.

Tributes to him have come from many quarters.

Memories of the man who carried his own luggage; paid his own hotel bill after his election as Pope; washing the feet of women, prisoners, and Muslims in 2013 as a sign of his humility and their inclusion; visiting war zones, prisons and slums; concentrating on the reality of environmental catastrophe; speaking truth to power. Pope Francis rarely shied away from speaking out and speaking up. His was a ministry that went consistently to the frayed edges of the twenty-first century because it was there that he felt we would encounter those in greatest need, and the God Who had not forgotten them. This also meant speaking out against and apologising for areas in his own church’s past in relation to the abuse of children and the poor treatment of women.

For the full tribute please see the Church of Scotland website.

Tribute from Bishop Mike Royal, General Secretary of Churches Together in England

“Today we are learning of the passing of Pope Francis. A man who held his office with dignity, yet humility. He was a breath of fresh air. A man who seemed to be in touch with the everyday issues that affected people lives.

I remember being at St Peter’s Square for the ecumenical prayer gathering in September 2023 that brought Christians together, signalling the Pope’s desire to listen and value voices beyond those around him. He will be remembered for speaking up for social justice. For being willing to have conversations about social norms that are so often divisive for the church. He is rightly lauded for standing up for climate justice. And it seems fitting that his last public address called for a lasting peace in Gaza. He was a voice from the global south at odds with so much that occupies the headlines today.

Of course, he will be sadly mourned by the faithful in the Catholic Church. However, people from across the Christian faith, people of other faiths and none will also feel a deep sense of loss. His Christ-like concern for the last and the least will be his abiding memory. Today we didn’t just lose a Pope, we lost a wonderful human being.”

Trubutes from the Presidents of CTE

Churches Together in England (CTE) has compiled tributes from its Presidents and other member churches.

Please see the CTE website.

Tribute to Pope Francis from the Archbishop of Wales

“It was with the most profound sadness that I heard of the death of Pope Francis. With his passing, the world has lost a leader whose love, compassion and care for the poor and marginalised were worthy of the Saint from whom he took his name. I recall with great fondness our meeting in the Vatican in December 2023 when we spoke about Wales and I was able to present him with a symbolic gift. In the Church in Wales, we join in prayer with our brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic Church as they mourn the loss of the Holy Father, and we give thanks with them for a life of faith which has been an inspiration to countless millions. In Wales, we shall have a lasting reminder of his generosity with the gift of a piece of the True Cross, which is incorporated in the ceremonial Cross of Wales which led the Coronation procession and which is now shared between the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches in Wales. After his life of devotion to our Saviour Jesus Christ, may Pope Francis rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon him.”

Please see the Church in Wales website.

Comment from HE Archbishop Angaelos following the departure of HH Pope Francis

We offer our deepest condolences to our beloved Catholic sisters and brothers in Britain and around the world on the passing of His Holiness, the Late Pope Francis. It will be a comfort to many that he was able to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord with his flock and appeared on the balcony in Saint Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday before resting in peace early on Monday morning. We are reminded of and take comfort from our Lord’s assurances to Martha in John 11:25, when “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’”

In life, Pope Francis was a shepherd to many as a man of humility, courage, and conviction. Whilst his approach on certain matters divided opinion, no one could deny the underlying depth and genuineness of his pastoral care and concern.

Having had the privilege of meeting with Pope Francis on numerous occasions throughout his papacy, I will especially treasure the memory of accompanying His Holiness Pope Tawadros II to the Vatican to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Christological Agreement between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. During this visit, in which we beheld the unprecedented image of the two Popes addressing the crowd in Saint Peter’s Square, Pope Francis announced the inclusion of the 21 Coptic Martyrs of Libya in the Roman Martyrology; a powerful proclamation of our shared Christian heritage.

We pray repose for the soul of Pope Francis, comfort for his spiritual children, and wisdom and discernment for, when the time comes, the selection of a shepherd, that our Lord may choose that shepherd after His own heart.

Praying rest eternal. May he rest in peace, and rise in glory.

Archbishop Eamon Martin responds to the death of the Holy Father Pope Francis

On behalf of the people, religious sisters and brothers, priests and bishops of Ireland I wish to express sadness and our feelings of affection and loss upon hearing of the death of the Holy Father Pope Francis this morning. In recent days, and since he was admitted to hospital in February, he has been showing immense courage and serenity in the face of frailty and suffering. In this, he has been giving such powerful witness to the dignity of human life and to resilience in the face of suffering which has meant so much, especially to those who are struggling with illness, disability or any other difficulty at this time. Just yesterday, on Easter Sunday he proclaimed from the balcony in Saint Peter’s Square Buona Pasqua! Happy Easter! reminding us that Christ is alive. Christ is risen. Christ is our hope.

Pope Francis often said that the face of God is Mercy. In the coming days, we will remember him with thanksgiving and pray that God will have mercy on his soul and reward him for all the good work he has done.

Statement of Archbishop Dermot Farrell on the death of Pope Francis

With all his heart, and with all his understanding, and with all his strength…(Mark 12:33)

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7) Right to the very end! With everything he had! Last Thursday – Holy Thursday – Pope Francis visited Rome’s Regina Coeli prison. He was too weak to wash the prisoners’ feet, but even in his weakness, he found the strength to be with those who are of little value in the eyes of the world. On Sunday – Easter Sunday – he would summon the strength to greet the faithful from the Balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica, and afterwards find the generosity of spirit to greet the crowd in Saint Peter’s Square itself. From his first appearance on the balcony of Saint Peter’s the night of his election, to his last, hours before his death, his was a papacy of radical presence to all God’s people. His was a living out of the prophecy of the Lord: “there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:16) And people could feel this: we could feel his connection with us and his concern for us, his welcome for his brothers and sisters.

Pope Francis’s life has been a radical dedication to the gospel. Throughout his pontificate, he modelled and preached God’s good news of justice, mercy, and forgiveness. Being a child of immigrants, he knew first-hand the hardships facing those forced to leave their homeland, and his papacy became one of compassion, commitment, and action for migrants and those facing disadvantage worldwide: after one of the many tragic drownings of migrants in the Mediterranean, a few weeks after his election, he insisted on going to the island of Lampedusa: “I felt that I had to come here today, to pray and to offer a sign of my closeness, but also to challenge our consciences lest this tragedy be repeated.” (Lampedusa Homily, July 9, 2013)

For the full statement from Archbishop Dermot Farrell please see the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference website.

Statement of Archbishop Francis Duffy on the death of Pope Francis

The announcement today of the death of Pope Francis is truly sad news for the Church and the world. For those in the Church, not only has a spiritual leader died, but a father, Papa Francesco, has died. And for people of good will everywhere, a courageous, loving, welcoming, and challenging public figure has died. The outpouring of affection and grief at the death of Pope Francis is quite understandable and not at all unexpected. As one parishioner said “the parish priest of the world has died”.

He is the Pope who gave us the Year of Mercy in 2016 with an emphasis on forgiveness and reconciliation. His celebrated letter Laudato si’ – on caring for our common home, is a document filled with hope. He gave us this Jubilee Year of hope.

Above all, it is Pope Francis’ love for God’s people, especially those in poverty and on the margins, and those who experience rejection because of personal circumstances, that will long live in the memories of all who observed him.

He brought the Church of the twenty-first century on to a synodal pathway, one in which the voice of everyone, without exception, is to be heard.

On a more local level, Pope Francis visited Knock Shrine in the summer of 2018 while he was in Ireland for the World Meeting of Families.

The news of Pope Francis’ death draws from us feelings of gratitude and appreciation, for this son of Italian immigrants to Argentina, who became Pope, The Rock – “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.”

Requiescat in pace.

Please see the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference website.

Statement of Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly on the death of Pope Francis

It was with great sadness that the people of the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly and I, learned of the death of Pope Francis, RIP.

His recent medical struggles and Easter Triduum appearances in Saint Peter’s in Rome had brought hope to all that he was on a journey of recovery from his recent illness. However, having fought the good fight to the end he returned to the home of the Father – the loving God in whom he trusted – early on Easter Monday morning, the meeting day at Galilee.

His ministry as Pope was characterised by his commitment to the poor and marginalised, to leading global awareness about the common home that we all share on this planet. One of Pope Francis’ abiding legacies will be his call to all to share our beautiful world for the benefit of all. Especially, his calls for special attention of care for those whose lives are endangered because of climate change. A call that becomes ever more valid with every serious weather event.

From the earliest days of his ministry he challenged all believers to become Missionary Disciples of the Risen Lord – all our pastoral and Church life he called to be lived out of missionary conviction. This challenge is never more relevant as we journey together on our Synodal journey, as a Universal Church and a National Church.

A book of condolences will be available to sign in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles, over the coming days.

May Pope Francis rest in peace and may he be welcomed into the Father’s eternal home. Solas na bhlaitheas da anam usual.

Please see the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference website.

A statement on the death of His Holiness Pope Francis

The Methodist Church in Britain receives with deep sadness the news of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, and gives thanks for his life and Christian witness.

Even to the final days of his long life, by his actions and his words, Pope Francis continued to set forth the gospel of God’s love in Christ. He spoke plainly of the hope that is to be found in Jesus Christ, showed profound compassion for those who are poor and marginalised, and gave particular emphasis to God’s demand for global justice. Through his papacy, Francis has fostered an openness to Christians sharing together in the Church’s life and mission, in ways which have broken new ground for the Catholic Church. In all these ways, for many Methodists Pope Francis’s witness to the Christian faith holds a special resonance, and his loss is deeply felt.

Methodists join in these days in prayer and sympathy with our Catholic sisters and brothers, who have lost their Holy Father, recognising the pain that this brings. Methodists will also offer prayers in the days ahead for the Catholic Church, as she navigates this period.

As God receives Pope Francis into God’s arms of love, we pray that he may rest in peace and rise in glory.

For more tributes, please see the Methodist Church in Britain website.

A statement on the death of Pope Francis

The President and Lay Leader of the Methodist Church in Ireland have extended the “sympathies and prayers of the Irish Methodist people” upon learning of the death of Pope Francis.

As a Church we are grateful for Pope Francis’s faith and for his leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. We give thanks and appreciation for his ecumenical spirit and openness to other leaders in the global Christian Church.

We commend his advocacy for social justice, his desire to prioritise care for the poor and the most vulnerable in society as well as his call for all people to embrace their role as ‘stewards of creation’.

We extend our deepest sympathies and prayers of the Irish Methodist people to our brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic community and to all those who mourn. May the late Pope’s legacy of faith continue to inspire generations to come.

Rev Dr John Alderdice
President

Mrs Elaine M Barnett
Lay Leader

The death of Pope Francis

Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main, the Territorial Leaders for The Salvation Army in the UK and Ireland, have written to the Archbishop of Westminster, the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland. They expressed their deepest condolences on the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis.

In their letter, Commissioners Paul and Jenine Main wrote: “On behalf of The Salvation Army in the UK and Ireland, we extend our deepest condolences to you and the entire Roman Catholic community following the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis.

“Pope Francis was a beacon of compassion, humility, and unwavering faith. His dedication to serving the marginalised and his commitment to justice and peace resonated far beyond the walls of the Church, touching lives across the world. His leadership embodied the love of Christ, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

“In this time of mourning, Salvationists in the United Kingdom and Ireland are praying for the Roman Catholic community, asking for God’s comfort and strength to be upon you. Yet even in grief, we hold fast to the reality of Christ’s resurrection – the eternal hope that death is not the end, but rather the gateway to new life in Him. May this truth bring consolation and peace as you honour the life and legacy of Pope Francis.

“May God bless you all.”

Condolences offered upon death of Pope Francis

The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev Mark Strange, offers a message of condolence upon the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all in the Roman Catholic Church today as they mourn the death of Pope Francis,” said the Primus.

“His generosity and love for all of God’s Creation and his willingness to be open and approachable allowed him to get close to people, and to love and be loved by so many. The joy on the faces in St Peter’s Square yesterday as he gave the Easter Blessing will be something dearly held as the mourning begins for this remarkable servant of God.

“When the Anglican Primates met in Rome last year, he spent time talking to us, listened to the questions we asked and he answered us. This positive dialogue encouraged us all and we felt able to share with him our thoughts , as he did with us. This was clearly one of his gifts that enabled such conversations to take place between many of the world’s churches.

“May he now Rest in Peace.”

Please see the Scottish Episcopal Church website.

On the Death of His Holiness, Pope Francis

The United Reformed Church, with Christians everywhere, mourns the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, and extends its sympathy to Catholics who will grieve this loss most keenly.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope in March 2013 taking office after the abdication of Benedict XVI. It is rumoured Bergoglio was the runner up when Benedict was elected and was the first Pope ever to have his predecessor living in such proximity throughout much of his papal ministry.

All who are called to offices of leadership and oversight in the Church realise how demanding these roles can be; none is more demanding than that of Bishop of Rome. The complexity of the task tired Benedict to the point of exhaustion and the toll of the office was heavy for Francis.

Within the limitations and expectations of the Papal office Francis was an agent of change who sat lightly on inherited traditions and pomp. Rejecting an ermine lined red cape before being presented to the crowds in St Peter’s, Francis said to an aide “no thank you Monsignor … the carnival is over!”.

Living a simple lifestyle meant, for Francis, rejecting a move into the Papal apartments (which he said had room for more than 300 people) and remaining in a small suite in the Vatican guesthouse, taking his meals with other guests.

Francis saw his ministry, primarily, as being one who called the Church to be missionary. He wanted every element of the Church’s life to reflect missionary discipleship and the building of the Kingdom.

He oversaw the updating of the constitution for the Roman Curia (the Vatican civil service) so that it was orientated towards service and mission; it is supposed to be a template for every diocesan curia. Francis railed against bishops who viewed themselves as managers of a corporation seeing them, instead, as men who had to “smell of their sheep.”

In a speech before his election Francis stated: “when the Church does not come out of herself to evangelise, she becomes self-referential and sick”. A maxim all denominations should take to heart.

For the full tribute, please see the URC website.