Praying for the deceased Bishops

At 11:30 this morning at the Altar of the Chair in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided at a Mass for the souls of Cardinals and Bishops who have died during the past year.

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the Mass celebrated for the souls

of deceased Cardinals and Bishops

In the spiritual climate of the month of November, marked by the memory of the faithful departed, we recall our brother Cardinals and Bishops from all parts of the world who have returned to the house of the Father during this past year.  While we offer this Eucharist for them, let us ask the Lord to grant them the heavenly reward promised to good and faithful servants.

We have heard the words of Saint Paul: I am in fact convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, nothing present or to come, nor powers, nor heights nor depths, nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Rom 8:38-39).

The Apostle presents the love of God as the most profound motive, as invincible, the source of Christian trust and hope.  He lists the opposing and mysterious strengths which can threaten the ways of faith.  But he suddenly affirms with certainty that even if our entire existence is surrounded by threats, nothing can separate us from the love which Christ himself merited for us by giving of himself entirely.  Even  demonic powers which are hostile to humanity, are powerless before the intimate union of love between Jesus and those who welcome him in faith.  This reality of faithful love which Jesus has for each of us helps us to confront the everyday challenges with strength and serenity, challenges which sometimes can be swiftly overcome and which at times can be ongoing and tiring trials.

Only the sin of man can break this bond, but even in this case God will always seek us out, restoring us to a union which will endure even after death, indeed, a union which will only reach is culmination in the final encounter with the Father.  This certainty gives us new meaning, it fills us with earthly life and opens the way to hope for life even beyond death.

In effect, every time that we face the death of someone who is dear to us or who we have known well, there is a question that arises within us: What was the point of his life, his work, his service to the Church?  The Book of Wisdom tells us: they are in the hands of God! This hand is a sign of welcome and protection, a sign of a personal relationship of respect and of loyalty: to give a hand, to shake hands.  These zealous pastors who have dedicated their lives to the service of God and neighbour are in the hands of God.  All of them are well cared for and none of them will be corrupted by death.  All their days spent in joy and suffering, their hopes and their labours, their faithfulness to the Gospel and their passion for the spiritual and material salvation of the flock entrusted to them - all this is in the hands of God

Even sins, our sins are in the hands of God; those hands are merciful, hands wounded by love.  It was not by chance that Jesus wanted to preserve the wounds in his hands so that we might know the depth of his mercy.  And that is our strength, our hope.

This reality, full of hope, is the prospect of the final resurrection, of eternal life, to which the just are destined, those who welcome the Word of God and are obedient to the promptings of the Spirit.

In this way, we want to remember our deceased brother Cardinals and Bishops.  Men who were dedicated to their vocations and to serving the Church, who loved as one loves his bride.  In prayer, we entrust them to the mercy of the Lord, through the intercession of Our Lady and Saint Joseph, that they may be welcomed into the kingdom of light and peace, where they will live, eternally righteous and with all those who have been faithful witnesses of the Gospel.  Also, in this prayer, let us pray also for ourselves, that the Lord may prepare us for this encounter.  We know not the time, but this meeting will happen ... someday.