June 2025: Editorial

                                                                                                                                                       Don’t forget

At the funeral Mass in St Peter’s Square, Cardinal Re in his homily before many of the world’s powerbrokers unapologetically emphasised the priorities of Pope Francis’s reign, the poor, the marginalised and peace for those suffering from the effects of war in our badly fractured world. Our new Pope, Leo XIV in his first words to the church and the world built on his predecessor’s words of peace, unity and walking together as a church and as a human family. He added an Augustinian perspective by reminding us of God’s unconditional love in words that echoed St Augustine’s that ‘Christ loves each of us as if there were only one of us.’

In publicly thanking Pope Francis in his opening words, Pope Leo also spoke for the many millions around the world who mourn his passing and who drew and will continue to draw inspiration and hope from the inclusive vision and humble example of Pope Francis’s twelve-year reign.

Pope Leo XIV as the 267th successor of St Peter will without exaggeration need the prayers of the faithful more than ever before. Archbishop Eamon Martin recalled during his homily for the late Pope Francis how whenever anyone was saying goodbye to the pope after a meeting, he’d often take them by the hand, look them in the eye and say, ‘pray for me’. Then with a playful wag of his finger, he’d add, ‘and don’t forget!’ So while God does not do ‘encores’ and Francis’s successor is a different yet uniquely qualified guide Pope Leo will remain in need of the prayer that Pope Francis so sincerely sought. May we not forget.

Paul Clayton-Lea

Editor

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