We join in prayer of thanksgiving for a truly remarkable Holy Father, Pope Francis and for the repose of his soul …
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in peace. Amen.
May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace and rise in glory, Amen.
Pope Francis was clearly a pope for the poor, disadvantaged, and marginalised within society. Throughout his pontificate, he was very humble, turning down the Pope's traditional Apostolic palace to live in a Vatican guesthouse. In fact, he never lost his ability to be amongst people; only yesterday on Easter Sunday, he was out in St Peter's Square after speaking to the crowds from the balcony of the Vatican. He has chosen not to be buried in the Vatican, but in Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, a church in a poorer district in Rome where he often went to pray before an image of Our Lady and baby Jesus.
His papal encyclicals and apostolic exhortations were full of challenges to help us become the 'Missionary Disciples' he believed that all could be. A devout and humble man, Pope Francis lived out his whole life in the service of others. We feel blessed to have had Pope Francis's guidance, and as we give thanks for his life, may we continue his work striving for a better world, especially for those young people, families, and parishes we serve in the Blessed Edward Bamber Trust.