Statement by the Most Reverend Earl Boyea, Bishop of Lansing,
upon the death of His Holiness, Pope Francis
Requiescat in pace
April 21, 2025
Easter Monday
My sisters and brothers in the Lord,
When he took the name of Francis in 2013, Cardinal Bergoglio surprised many. While Saint Francis of Assisi is admired by nearly the entire world and most people are aware of his incredible witness to Christ, very few seek even to dare to imitate him. Yet, Pope Francis has greatly succeeded in his intense devotion to the poor and marginalized to which Saint Francis dedicated much of his life.
Those who are easily forgotten or ignored, Pope Francis has consistently placed before our eyes and hearts, challenging each of us to stretch and even break the boundaries we often set to our charity.
Saint Francis of Assisi penned a poem near the end of his life, the Canticle of the Sun. Pope Francis has similarly seen in the faces of all those in need as well as the elements of nature itself as brothers and sisters. It is certain that Pope Francis has now hailed the end with these words of his model: “Welcome, my sister death.”
May Pope Francis rest in peace and may his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
I am sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Earl Boyea
Bishop of Lansing
Prayer for a Deceased Pope from Roman Missal:
God, Who, in Thine ineffable providence, didst will that Thy servant Francis ... should be numbered among the high priests; grant, we beseech Thee, that he, who on earth held the place of Thine only-begotten Son, may be joined forevermore to the fellowship of Thy holy pontiffs. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
Amen. Source: Roman Missal
Requiem Aeternam
V. Eternal rest grant unto Francis, O Lord.
R. And let the perpetual light shine upon him.
And may his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
Psalm 129: De Profoundis
Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord: * Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thy ears be attentive * to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: * Lord, who shall stand it?
For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness: * and by reason of thy law, I have waited for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on His word, * my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night, * let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel * from all his iniquities.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.