Rev Kyle Paisley, now a minister at Oulton Broad Free Presbyterian Church in Suffolk, said the death of the 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church brought “profound sadness” for many.
His father, who led the DUP and co-founded the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in 1951, was a consistent protester against previous popes. In 1988 he famously protested when John Paul II addressed the European Parliament.
The MEP was carried from the chamber yelling “I denounce you, Anti-Christ! I refuse you as Christ’s enemy and Anti-Christ with all your false doctrine,” during the pope’s address.
He had also infamously described Catholics as “popeheads” and Catholic women as “incubators for Rome” and called John Paul II “the scarlet woman of Rome”, often referring to him in derogatory terms as “old red socks”.
People pay their respects in front of a portrait of late Pope Francis displayed inside Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul, South Korea. Anthony Wallace
Following the death of Pope Francis, Rev Kyle Paisley extended the hand of Christian friendship, acknowledging the “profound sadness” felt by many — a marked departure from the stance of his father.
“The death of Pope Francis is a matter of profound sadness for many people, especially for devout Roman Catholics who looked up to him as the head of their Church, and the guide of their faith,” he said.
“To lose someone you put such great confidence in is a severe blow. Broken hearts need Christian sympathy and the hope of the Gospel.
“Bergoglio’s passing is a stark reminder of human mortality. But Christ’s finished ...
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