Canadian church mourns the death of Pope Francis – “A great servant of the Gospel”

Pope Francis prays at the Ermineskin Cree Nation Cemetery before meeting with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities at Maskwacis, Alberta, July 25, 2022, during his "penitential pilgrimage" to Canada. (CNS photo by Paul Haring)

Posted By: Kiply Lukan Yaworski April 21, 2025

(Updated April 25, 2025)

Message from Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen about death of Pope Francis: LINK

Message from CCCB President Bishop William McGrattan: English / French

Message from Regina Archbishop Donald Bolen about Pope Francis: LINK

Archbishop Michael Miller mourns Holy Father: LINK

Archbishop Richard Smith reflects on compassion of Pope Francis – LINK

Statement from Cardinal Frank Leo, Archbishop of Toronto – LINK

By Quinton Amundson, The Catholic Register

[Toronto – Canadian Catholic News] – The Canadian Catholic community is lamenting the loss and heralding the legacy of Pope Francis, who passed away at age 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025 at 7:35 a.m. (Rome time).

Cardinal Francis Leo, the Archbishop of Toronto, declared that “Our Catholic family worldwide is in mourning following the death of our spiritual father, Pope Francis.”

Leo, whom the Pope elevated to the College of Cardinals this past December, praised the Bishop of Rome’s personal leadership.

“Since 2013, our shepherd has guided the flock lovingly and served as a global ambassador of peace, hope and love,” stated Leo. “The Holy Father’s humility, compassion and care for others, most especially the poor and marginalized, has served as a powerful witness and a reminder of our daily call to reflect the face of Jesus to all those whom we encounter.”

Montreal Archbishop Christian Lepine released a YouTube video reacting to the news.

“We received a lot from him — we’ve received so much from him,” said Lepine. “For my part I was at World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro (in 2013) with two million people meeting him, and I was marked really by his message to build a world of encounter, a civilization of encounter.

“Why a civilization of encounter? Because of the value of each human person: to go and meet each other as a way to affirm the dignity of each human person. Can we do that alone? No. It is only together that we can affirm the real value of each person. The differences that we have between each other are not an obstacle, they are a blessing. To see the value of the other is also to learn — to view the difference as a blessing for our own lives. Pope Francis’ message of encounter and togetherness so we can enrich our life and enrich our peace. Let us be together in solidarity and sadness, and the building of peace and a civilization of encounter.”

“We are saddened by the death of our beloved Pope Francis, a great servant of the Gospel and a lover of humanity,” said Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, the Archbishop of Quebec. “Despite the immense sadness of his departure, I give thanks to God for the life he gave. His life and his teaching brought us back to the source of the Gospel, Jesus Christ. May the Lord welcome him into eternal life.”

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Canadian Catholic News (CCN) is a national news service, with members including Catholic newspapers, organizations, and individuals: CanadianCatholicNews.ca

Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News is supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca.