Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe extend global condolences for Pope Francis
(Atlanta, GA) With the news spreading across the world regarding Pope Francis’ passing, the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe react with words of comfort and peace, recognizing Pope Francis’ impact and legacy. The Order of Friars Minor recently posted, “Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Supreme Pontiff on the 13th March, 2013, taking the name of Francis, the first in history. In fact, he is a pope very close to St. Francis of Assisi, to the Franciscan charism and to the Franciscan friars.”
Br. Lawrence J. Hayes, OFM, Provincial Minister for the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, shares his words and a memorable quote from Pope Francis:
With Catholics, Christians and people of good will world-wide, we join in offering prayers of gratitude for the life and witness of Pope Francis— icon of the compassion of God, defender of migrants and the poor, champion of ecological responsibility, reformer who sought to transform the Church into a “field hospital” at the service of the vulnerable at the peripheries, and friend of Christ who longed to “wake up the world” with hope and joy. In faith, we commend Pope Francis to God’s loving embrace. Through the power of the resurrection, may he now enjoy fullness of life with God in the communion of saints. Abide in life, good and faithful servant!
“Let us welcome Jesus, the God of life, into our lives, and today once again say ‘yes’ to Him. Then no stone will block the way to our hearts, no tomb will suppress the joy of life, no failure will doom us to despair. Let us lift our eyes to Him and ask that the power of His resurrection may roll away the heavy stones that weigh down our souls. Let us lift our eyes to Him, the Risen Lord, and press forward in the certainty that, against the obscure backdrop of our failed hopes and our deaths, the eternal life that He came to bring is even now present in our midst.” — Pope Francis