Our joy at entering the Easter Season was immediately met by the sad news of the passing of Pope Francis. This came as a shock, after seeing him giving his Urbi et Orbi blessing on Easter Sunday. His special apostolic blessing now seems his farewell, to the church in Rome and to the world.

Pope Francis has been a shepherd who consistently taught us to live the Gospel through the imitation of Christ’s love … by reaching out to the poor, the needy, the marginalized, and those on the peripheries of society.

Among his many writings he emphasized the gift of faith as a guiding light (lumen Fidei), as well as encouraging human fraternity and solidarity (Frotelli Tutti), and renewed care for the natural environment (Laudato Si).

May the soul of Pope Francis rest in the light of the Risen Lord, and find joy and peace in the eternal kingdom as a good and faithful servant, now finally at rest in the Father’s house.