Remembering Pope Francis

Paul Skippen

22 Apr 2025

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Staff

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With the Heart of Francis

About this Ritual

This ritual is a prayerful celebration of the life and legacy of Pope Francis. It invites school staff to remember his deep love for God, his care for the poor and the planet, and his joyful, humble leadership.

Through scripture, prayer, story, and reflection, the ritual encourages us to reflect on his example and challenges us to carry his message of mercy, justice, and hope into our own lives and communities.

It’s a moment to honour, remember, and be inspired.

WE GATHER

Call to Prayer

All :

God of mercy and mission, We thank you for Pope Francis, a teacher of truth, a friend of the poor, a shepherd who walked with courage and joy.

As educators, give us a heart like his: Open to wonder, brave in justice, ready to listen, slow to judge, and always leaning toward love.

May his legacy echo in our classrooms and staffrooms, not just in words, but in the way we teach, serve, and lead. Amen.

WE LISTEN

Scripture

Micah 6: 8

Reader :

“This is what the Lord asks of you: Only this – to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God.”

This verse captures so much of what Pope Francis lived and taught: justice with compassion, love without condition, and humility grounded in deep faith.

Story

The Pope Who Chose Simplicity

Reader :

He could’ve had gold shoes.
He chose black ones – worn, practical, and ordinary.

He could’ve lived in a palace.
He chose a small apartment, ate in the staff dining room, and carried his own bag.

He could’ve stayed behind the scenes.
He stepped into prisons, refugee camps, and slums.
He bent low to wash feet – of the poor, of women, of people society forgets.

Pope Francis showed the world that leadership is service.
That faith is action.
That the Church is most alive when it moves beyond comfort and into courage.

And he reminded every teacher, every leader:
What you do – how you love, how you teach – matters.

Reflection

What Would Francis Say to You Today?

“Take care of your students – not just their marks, but their hearts.”

“Let your classroom be a place where joy and justice meet.”

“Don’t be afraid to talk about hard things – the world needs brave voices.”

“Stay close to the poor. Close to the Earth. Close to God.”

“You are not just a teacher – you are a builder of hope.”

Pope Francis believed deeply in educators. He saw them as shapers of souls and makers of peace. And he knew – real change starts with people like you.

WE RESPOND

Call to Action

Carry the Mission Forward

What does it mean to honour Pope Francis in your school?
Maybe it looks like:

Welcoming that difficult student with fresh eyes.
Bringing real-world justice issues into your curriculum.
Making time for stillness, silence, and prayer – for your own spirit.
Choosing simplicity over status.
Speaking up when it would be easier to stay quiet.

This week, ask yourself:
How can I lead with love, teach with mercy, and disrupt with hope?

That’s how we keep the spirit alive!

WE GO

Blessing

Leader :

May the God, who guided Pope Francis with compassion and courage inspire us to carry his message of love, mercy, and justice into our own lives …

All :

Amen.

Leader :

May the Spirit, who stirred Pope Francis to dream boldly, move us to speak with courage and lead with love …

All :

Amen.

Leader :

May Christ, who walked with the forgotten, remind us to notice, include, and uplift those in need …

All :

Amen.

Leader :

And may we, as bearers of hope, live with joy, teach with mercy, and serve with open hands …

All :

Amen.

Leader :

May almighty God bless us all + the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

All :

Amen.

Dismissal

Leader :

Let us go in peace, inspired by the life of Pope Francis – to walk humbly, love boldly, and bring hope to the world.

All :

Thanks be to God.