A Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis will be celebrated in St Macartan's Cathedral, Monaghan, on this Friday at 7.30pm. In a statement issued to Northern Sound, Bishop of Clogher Larry Duffy said; "We are all deeply saddened by the death of Pope Francis. His 12 years as Supreme Pastor of the Church provided us all with a form and substance of leadership that reflected his closeness to people of the margins, to the poorest and to those in great need. Through his preaching, his teaching and his travels, he gave witness to the values of the Gospel, the central place of mercy in our church and the need for us all to be people of hope, a hope rooted in Jesus Christ. He also placed great emphasis on the urgency of tackling the environmental crisis in our world and the need to prioritise the care of our common home.
Pope Francis also reached out to other Christian Churches and Communities and to people of other faiths. He exemplified dialogue as a pathway to addressing the many questions we all face whether as people of faith or as brothers and sisters living together in this world. This sense of listening and dialogue also found its place in our Church structures, with his emphasis on synodality - of listening to each other and discerning the promptings of the Holy Spirit and of walking together in terms of us all being co-responsible for our Church at every level. We will all find much to reflect on about the life and ministry of Pope Francis. His great sense of outreach to the underdog, his emphasis on mercy and hope - all of this firmly rooted in his love of God - will surely provide us with a lasting legacy. This is reflected in the outpouring of love and sympathy at his passing."
