Pope Francis’s social values ‘resonated with Scotland’ – Archbishop of Glasgow

Belfast Telegraph - 21/04
A mass was held for the soul of Pope Francis hours after his death on Easter Monday, as the Archbishop of Glasgow said his social values resonated with the people of Scotland.

Around 400 mourners attended a 1pm mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in Glasgow less than seven hours after Francis’s death aged 88 on Easter Monday.

The Easter Monday Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis hailed the late leader of the Catholic Church as a “father”.

The Most Rev William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow, told the congregation: “Today we mark the passing of Pope Francis from one life to the next.”

Commemorative order of service for a special Easter Monday Mass in memory of Pope Francis in Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA)

He added: “That he died on Easter Monday reminds us that death has no end.”

In a eulogy, Archbishop Nolan said Pope Francis “was very keen that the church should bring hope to people” and compared him to a father.

The archbishop praised the late Pope’s “mercy” and “compassion”, adding: “We are all sad. Today we have lost a father.”

He told the congregation that when Francis was elected 12 years ago, aged 76, “it didn’t look like he would last that long”.

Archbishop Nolan said: “His message yesterday in St Peter’s Square was a plea for peace in the world.

“Freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of ...
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