Francis

 

‘Softly and gently, dear ransomed soul, in my most loving arms I now enfold thee’

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As we reflect on the passing of Pope Francis, we recognise a man whom history may well describe as ‘the Pope of the Poor’. Not cast in the model of many popes of either both old or recent times, he shunned many of the conventional trappings of his office, living and eating in the Casa Sancta Marta rather than in the papal apartments – and remember that the Martha of the gospels was the one who served while her sister Mary was more contemplative. That, however, is far from a criticism of Francis’ own spirituality, which shines out in his dealings with the poor and marginalised of society.

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His priestly ministry was formed as he served the poor and downtrodden of Argentina, ruled at the time by an unforgiving military junta. Like his namesake S. Francis, he sought to renew the church from within, no doubt at times earning him the disapprobation of the Roman curia yet ministering to the morass of suffering humanity across the contemporary world.

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Above all Pope Francis was a pope of the people, a priest and bishop whose life and work was took its strength from the life and love of Our Lord Jesus Christ’

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‘In paradisum deducant te angeli  ̶  into paradise may the angels lead thee’

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Deacon Douglas MacMillan

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The Collect

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Almighty Father,

who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples

with the sight of the risen Lord:

give us such knowledge of his presence with us,

that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life
and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.