I wish to express sympathy with all members of the Roman Catholic tradition in Ireland and worldwide on the death of Pope Francis who has led the Roman Catholic church since 2013 with courage and compassion, with insight and inspiration. We stand in prayer with the archbishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, with their priests and their people.
I thank him for everything that he has done for worldwide Christianity and for his engagement with people of all World Faiths. He has stepped into areas of life where the churches need to be and has developed new pathways of dialogue and friendship through his infectious godly humanity. He has stood with people on the margins of society and emphasised humanity’s need to care for Creation.
He studied for three months at the Jesuit House in Milltown, Dublin, where he endeared himself to the community by his modesty. In a real and tangible way he has a special place in our hearts by virtue of that experience.
I met him twice, once at the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in Lund and Malmö Sweden and secondly at the World Meeting of Families held here in Dublin where I had the opportunity and privilege to give to him a simple cross made from wood from the Church of Ireland church yard in Laragh at Glendalough. I did so in response to my own question ‘What do you give to somebody who sits atop worldwide Christianity?’ The answer is: ‘a simple wooden cross’.
Recognizing the many gifts and talents of Pope Francis, I feel that I speak with and for all members of the Church of Ireland in appreciating what he has done for ecumenical relations, not least in his moving forward the development of synodality as an interactive way of understanding the life of the Church and its people, giving them their voice. This opens a different chapter of engagement with our brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic tradition for members of the Church of Ireland.
My sympathy also goes to members of the Jesuit Order among whom Pope Francis’ intellectual, spiritual and pastoral acumen was formed in his native Argentina.
“Consider how great is the love which the Father has bestowed on us in calling us his children!” – The First Letter of John 3:1
+Michael
Dublin & Glendalough