On learning of the death of Pope Francis, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, has made the following statement.
“I have learnt with deep sorrow of the death of Pope Francis. Together with Bishops Sarah, Matthew, Tim and Paul, I give thanks for Pope Francis’s life and ministry as a priest, a bishop and as the Bishop of Rome.
Pope Francis’s attention to the sick, the marginalised and the poor, placing them in the spotlight of Christ’s love will be for me a defining memory of his Pontificate. His embrace of inclusion for those people has been inspirational and exemplary and deserves to be his legacy. He reminded us at all times that God has a heart of mercy, and he showed by his life what mercy looks like in practice. His devotion to his ministry until the end as we have witnessed in the last 24 hours, has underscored this.
I assure our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters of our prayers and sympathy at this time, especially for Archbishop Bernard, Bishop Mark and Bishop Tim.
Please join us in praying:
Into your hands, O merciful Saviour,
we commend your servant Francis [Bishop of Rome].
Acknowledge, we pray, a sheep of your own fold,
a lamb of your own flock,
a sinner of your own redeeming.
Enfold him in the arms of your mercy,
in the blessed rest of everlasting peace
and in the glorious company of the saints in light.
Amen”
Condolences, tributes, reflections and prayers have flowed in from the churches and Christian organisations across Britain and Ireland following the death of Pope Francis:
https://ctbi.org.uk/.../tributes-and-reflections-on-pope.../