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MCCB supplication for Pope Francis

MCCB supplication for Pope Francis

By Social Research and Communication Commission
23 April, 2025

The Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) has called on all the Catholic faithful and people of good will to pray for peaceful repose of Pope Francis.

In a communication designated as a prayer for the departed pontiff called “Remembering Pope Francis“, the bishops have recalled the uniqueness that marked the papacy of Francis that for many embodied a shift from the more conservative predecessors.

Among the many gifts that Pope Francis gave to the Church, the bishops have listed the following:

  • His insistence on the necessity for pastors to be close to the flock of Christ entrusted to their pastoral care. Even as MCCB, this is something we have discussed several times with our close collaborators, namely priests; that we need to do better than we are currently doing.
  • His deep concern for the rampant destruction of the environment. Again, as MCCB, we have written on this in our recent pastoral letters.
  • His repeated warnings against the danger of us pastors, and indeed every person, becoming slaves of material things and taking them as the basis and purpose of our lives. Regarding this matter, he, in fact, reminded us of the lifestyle and teachings of his patron saint, Francis of Assisi.
  • His call for a strong spirit of teamwork in our pastoral services. This is, in fact, something on which our Lord Jesus Christ himself insisted a lot.
  • His relentless call for peace touched the hearts of many people, as there is a tremendous and urgent need for it in many parts of the world.
  • His pastoral zeal for the salvation of souls was impressive and very inspiring.

The Bishops however are mindful that like any other person, Pope Francis may have not been perfect. Therefore, the Bishops call on all Catholics and all who love him to plead with our merciful and just judge, Jesus Christ, to judge him mercifully so that this last part of his pilgrimage to our eternal home will be swift and smooth.

“And when he is finally in our eternal home, he will pray for us, his brothers and sisters, who are still meandering through this spiritual and moral desert.” Concludes the statement.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday having gone into a comma. Meanwhile the mortal remains of Pope Francis are being taken to St Peters Square where people will pay their last respects. His funeral will be held on Saturday 26th April 2025.

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