A Lament for the Death of Pope Francis from the World Methodist Council
As part of the wider Methodist family, we at the European Methodist Council share in the sorrow expressed by the World Methodist Council at the passing of Pope Francis. The following message, offered by Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, President of the World Methodist Council and Rev Dr Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto, General Secretary of the World Methodist Council, speaks both personally and on behalf of our worldwide communion. We invite you to read it prayerfully, giving thanks for the life and witness of Pope Francis, and joining with sisters and brothers around the world in mourning his loss and remembering his legacy of humility, unity, and faithful discipleship.
We would like to speak in very personal terms and also on behalf of the Worldwide Methodist family.
It is with great sadness that the President and the General Secretary of the World Methodist Council received the news of the death of Pope Francis this Easter Monday morning. It was as recent as December 2024 that a small company of us were received by the Pope in a private audience at the
Apostolic Palace in Rome.Pope Francis welcomed us as siblings in Christ. He invited all to have an open mind and heart to one another: “In this way our communities will manage to unite the different minds and wills, letting ourselves to be guided by the Spirit.” Pope Francis addressed directly the fact that for a long time there was suspicion and distrust between Catholics and Methodists. But that “We can now thank God because, for 60 years, we are progressing together in knowledge, in mutual understanding and love.” He added that: “This has helped us to deepen our mutual communion.”
The Pope referred to the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, “This occasion reminds us that we profess the same faith and, therefore, that we have the same calling to offer signs of hope that bear witness to God’s presence in the world… to persevere on the path to visible unity and in the quest of finding ways to respond fully to the prayer of Jesus ‘that they may all be one’.”
We speak on behalf of the World Methodist Council in expressing our great sadness at the loss of Pope Francis. From the seat of St. Peter he exercised primacy, calling us to unity in love and diversity.
The late Pope set an example by choosing the name Francis at his election to the papacy. He was the first Pope to take the name of the saint who brought such renewal to the Church, calling all to a life of holiness, setting an example of humility, and demonstrating a deep spiritual love for the created world.
He was also the first Pope to come from Latin America, saying that cardinals went to the end of the world to find him. Truthful to his roots, he was always calling us all back to service to and with the poor. He courageously called us to speak prophetically for justice. The Pope also invited us to share in the joy of the Gospel.
Francis was the first Pope from the Order of the Jesuits. Methodists understood his emphasis on a discipline of prayer, and his constant request for us not to forget to pray for him. We considered it a privilege to fulfil that request.
Though Pope Francis is no longer physically with us he leaves an example to be followed.
We say goodbye Pope Francis, until we meet again in the Eternal City of God.
Photo credit: Rev. Dr. Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto (left) and Bishop Dr. Debra Wallace-Padgett (center) with Pope Francis (right) in the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City State on 16 December 2024. Photo by Vatican Media.