Secondary: Tuesday Week 1, Term 2

Remembering Pope Francis

Today, we gather not just in sadness, but in deep gratitude. Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Catholic Church, has returned to God. He wasn’t just a Church leader – he was a voice for justice, a friend to the forgotten, and a champion of young people. His heart beat with love for all creation.

He reminded us that faith isn’t about power – it’s about service, simplicity, and love. And so today, we remember him – not like a distant figure in Rome, but as someone who truly walked the talk.

Together we pray:

God of compassion,

You gave us Pope Francis as a light in dark places –

a leader who reminded us to smell like the sheep,

to care for the planet, to welcome the refugee, to stand with the poor.

As we grieve, help us carry forward what he began.

Let his legacy live on in our lives, in our schools, in our Church.

May he rest in Your peace and rise in Your glory.

Amen

The Story

Pope Francis – A Heart that Changed the World

Reader:

Pope Francis didn’t lead the Church from a throne. He led from the streets. From refugee camps, prisons, slums, and soup kitchens. He walked with the poor. Sat with the broken. Listened to the young.

He reminded the world that the Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners.

That faith isn’t about being perfect – it’s about being real, being kind, being brave enough to care.

He told us, “Go make a mess.” Not a reckless mess – but the kind that comes when you stir things up for justice. When you speak out for those no one listens to. When you live with purpose, not just for yourself, but for something greater.

Pope Francis didn’t just talk about love – he lived it. Love for creation. Love for the forgotten. Love for the whole human family.

He’s gone now. But his mission? That’s not over. It’s ours to pick up.

So let’s not just remember Pope Francis. Let’s live like he did. With heart. With hope. With guts.

That’s how we honour his legacy – not with statues or silence, but with action.

Amen.