Only a few days ago I shared with our communities my Easter message about life. Life is at the heart of our Easter celebrations. Although during Holy Week we commemorated Christ passion and death, yet we prepare ourselves for Christ Resurrection, because, as we believe, Love is stronger than death. Love for God and His people expressed in the life of Pope Francis was and is an inspiration for many of us.
The Easter message is full of hope for the fullness of life. Pope Francis called us this year to be pilgrims of hope. Now as we have received news of the death of Pope Francis, we pray for him as he concluded his earthly pilgrimage. It is his last pilgrimage on earth, and we pray to God who has guarded his coming to life, may He guard his going to the fulness of life in the Fathers house.
This is a time for us to reflect on the heritage Pope Francis left with us. We are grateful for his ministry as successor of Peter and for bringing our Lord from the highest of Heaven into the reality of human life. He has done this by simply sharing his faith with us. He has called us, who are chosen to be ministers of Christ “to be shepherds with the smell of the sheep,’ meaning to be with those we serve, to understand their life’s joys and sorrows, to bring God’s peace and forgiveness into reality of people’s life.
In the Synod on synodality, Pope Francis gathered people from various parts of the world, bishops, priests, religious and lay and called them to listen to one another. After all we are on the same pilgrimage of hope.
Pope Francis’ life impacted the life of our communities to be more open and welcoming. He has shared with us many different reflections which were down to earth and to the life of people.
As we mourn the death of our Pope and pray for his journey to the Father’s house. We express our faith in Easter message that love is stronger than death.
May he Rest In Peace.
O God,
from whom the just receive an unfailing reward,
grant that your servant FRANCIS, our Pope,
whom you made vicar of Peter and shepherd of your Church,
may rejoice for ever in the vision of your glory,
for he was a faithful steward here on earth
of the mysteries of your forgiveness and grace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.