This week we have been reflecting on the life and the death of Pope Francis.
In our assemblies in the Prep School and in the Senior School we have given thanks to God for the leadership of Pope Francis, successor of Peter, and we have had the opportunity to pray for the repose of his soul.
Two words that will perhaps always be associated with Pope Francis and his legacy are compassion and humility. Pope Francis cared deeply about people and particularly the poor and the vulnerable. He taught about the importance of judging no-one and about treating every individual as a beloved child of God. He shunned the trappings of his office, choosing to live in a modest shared apartment rather than a palace, and being transported around Rome in a small family car rather than a luxury limousine. On Maundy Thursday, just four days before he died, he visited prisoners, in spite of his own weakness and frailty. In anticipating his own death and burial Pope Francis expressed a wish to be buried with dignity but without excessive ceremony, like any other Christian – in death as in life, a man no greater than any other in the eyes of the Lord.
Fr Stephen celebrated Mass for all of the staff on the INSET day on Tuesday. During his homily Fr Stephen emphasised that while the death of the Pope is mourned, sadness at his death is not to detract from the joy of Easter. We are still right at the beginning of the season of Easter, which lasts for a whole 50 days. Happy Easter!
The joy of Easter comes from the knowledge that while Jesus was crucified and died on the cross on Good Friday, he was raised from the dead on Easter Sunday. St Paul wrote that those who die in Christ die a death like Christ and so will with surety also be raised to new life like Christ. The resurrection of Jesus brings hope, confidence and promise to all that while death is the end of life on earth, it is the beginning of life eternal. Death is an end; it is not the end.
O Lord we pray, pour out your mercy and grant eternal rest to your servant Pope Francis.
May he rest in the eternal joy of heaven, with the risen Jesus and in the company of all the saints.
Amen.
