PRESS RELEASE
St Francis Leprosy Guild mourns the passing of
His Holiness, Pope Francis
His Holiness, Pope Francis
21 April 2025, London, UK: St Francis Leprosy Guild, along with its supporters, mourns the death of His Holiness, Pope Francis. "May He rest in peace and rise in glory."
His Holiness, Pope Francis who died on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025.
Responding to the death of Pope Francis, Edward Reed, Chair of Trustees, said:
It is with profound sadness that the Guild has learnt the news that the Holy Father, Pope Francis has been called to his eternal reward. His perseverance in exercising his public ministry to the very end through profound health challenges and closing his ministry with the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Easter Sunday is a source of immense inspiration. A later time will come to appreciate more objectively his work on behalf of those most marginalised in the world. For now, we join others in the global community who mourn his passing and pray for the repose of his soul. May the late Holy Father rest in eternal peace and rise in glory."
Fr Gary Dench, SFLG's new Spiritual Director said:
On the occasion of the death of a Roman Pontiff, we take a moment of solemn reflection. With the passing of Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome and Successor of Saint Peter, the Church mourns, but not like those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Pope Francis has now completed his earthly pilgrimage. Like all popes before him, he has passed through the veil, leaving behind the burdens of the Petrine office. As Christians, we commend his soul to the mercy of Almighty God, Who alone judges with justice and love. It is fitting that in this hour, the faithful pray for the repose of his soul, offering Masses, rosaries, and acts of charity in keeping with the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
Christian hope does not rest on sentimentality but on the Resurrection of Christ. It is this sure hope that has animated the Church in every age - through persecution, scandal, schism, and death. In the figure of the pope, we see not a celebrity or a political leader, but the Vicar of Christ on Earth. His death calls us back to the essential marks of the Christian life: to fidelity, to penance, to prayer, and to that hope which endures all things.
In times past, the death of a pope was marked not by instant headlines, but by the tolling of bells and the gathering of the faithful in silent prayer. Let us remember that the pope, for all the power of his office, dies like every man. His soul stands before God, stripped of all honours and titles, save the grace he received and the merits he acquired. This must be for us an encouragement to prayer.
As we await the conclave and the election of a new pontiff, we must not be shaken. The papacy endures because it is of divine institution. The Church will continue her pilgrimage until the end of time, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Let us entrust the Church once more to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, asking Our Lady to intercede for the cardinals who will choose the next pope, and for the faithful who must always remain steadfast in the Faith once delivered to the saints.
Pope Francis has now met the Lord whom he served. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace."
Pope Francis died on Monday 21 April at 7.35am aged 88, following weeks of ill health. He had been Pope for twelve years and the 265th successor of St Peter. Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires. He was elected Pope on 13 March 2013 taking the name Francis.
Leprosy
At the International Symposium on leprosy, "Leave No One Behind" at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute, in January 2023, His Holiness, Pope Francis blessed the work of St Francis Leprosy Guild.
At the International Symposium on leprosy, "Leave No One Behind" at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute, in January 2023, His Holiness, Pope Francis blessed the work of St Francis Leprosy Guild.
The Symposium commenced with a powerful message from His Holiness, read out by Sister Alessandra Smerilli, FMA, (Dicastery from Promoting Integral Human Development, Holy See.)
Never forget our brothers and sisters with Hansen's Disease. I hope that this conference will help gather voices from around the world and discuss measures that can be taken to further promote respect for human dignity. His Holiness,Pope Francis (full message)
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Sister Smerilli cautioned governments that leprosy stigma leads to serious violations and urged us all to be good Samaritans, reaching out to the marginalised and abandoned in society and Leaving No One Behind.
She urged delegates to renew their commitment to people affected by leprosy so that they may live as fully fledged members of society. She blessed all those affected and working in leprosy.
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Sr Alessandra Smerilli FMA
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In his sermon at the canonisation of Santa Maria Antonia de San Jose in February 2024, His Holiness reflected on the Gospel, which described Jesus healing a person with leprosy (Mark 1:40-45). The man not only suffered from leprosy, but above all, from being marginalised. His Holiness said:
Fear, prejudice and false religiosity: these are three causes of a great injustice, three 'leprosy infections of the soul' that make the weak suffer because they are treated like rubbish. Brothers and sisters, let us not think that this only happened in the past. How many suffering people we encounter on the pavements of our cities! And how many fears, prejudices and incongruous behaviours, even on the part of those who believe and call themselves Christians, continue to hurt them! Even in our time, there is much marginalisation, there are barriers that need to be broken down, there are 'leprosy infections' that need healing. And how does such healing take place? Not by keeping our distance."
His Holiness pointed out that Jesus made the first move and touched the sick man, although he knew he was violating the ideas of purity at that time.
Link to official text of His Holiness' address
Link to official text of His Holiness' address
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."
Father in heaven, May the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen"
His Holiness, Pope Francis.
