Brother and sisters,
It is with a sense of deep sadness with thanksgiving to God for a life lived in the Lord’s service, that we have learned today of the death of our Holy Father Pope Francis.
From the first moments of his pontificate, as a bishop from the peripheries on 13 March 2013, he has impacted the minds and hearts of many in the world seeking that we should all be “fratelli tutti” – brothers and sisters together, int his our common home.
The Catholic Church has lost its universal Pastor, and so today we pray for his eternal rest, we thank God for the much good he has done, and we pray for the Cardinals as they move to elect another successor of Saint Peter to continue to guide and lead the Church in 2025.
I have many fond memories of meeting him, most recently in January at the first general audience of the Jubilee Year.
I will remember him as a kind and welcoming priest and bishop. Francis asked everyone who met him to never to forget to pray for him – let us assure him of our prayers that he would finally meet the good shepherd and gentle judge he so zealously served.
With my prayers for you all,
Archbishop Malcolm McMahon
