A Requiem Mass for Pope Francis

REQUIEM MASS ON THE DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral 

This is an order of service only as the liturgical texts are copyright. The script may not be exactly as broadcast and there may be mistakes, errors and producer notes.

Radio 4 Opening Announcement: Following the Death of Pope Francis, and in a change to our published programme, Sunday Worship this morning comes from the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool. The celebrant is the Cathedral Dean Canon Anthony O’Brien. The homily is given the Archbishop of Liverpool Malcolm McMahon. The Requiem mass for Pope Francis begins now with part of the Introit and Kyrie from Faure’s Requiem.

 MUSIC: INTROIT ET KYRIE - FAURE 

SPEECH: GREETING (PRESIDER) 

‘It seems the Cardinals have gone almost to the end of the earth to find a new Pope’ said Jorge Mario Bergoglio upon his election as Pope Francis, 265th successor of the Apostles. Taking the name of Francis, after St Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis has become known as a Pope of the peripheries, and has throughout his life championed the poor, social justice and care for our planet. We gather today to prayer for Pope Francis, to give thanks for his ministry, and to pray that God will grant him eternal reward. 

SPEECH: PENITENTIAL RITE 

MUSIC: KYRIE (MASS XVIII) 

SPEECH: COLLECT (PRESIDER) 

SPEECH: Reading – Wisdom 3:1–6. 9

A reading from the book of Wisdom, Chapter 3 beginning at verse 1

MUSIC: GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (CHOIR) 

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia 

(or, if Lent GLORY AND PRAISE TO YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST) 

SPEECH: GOSPEL (DEACON) 

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 5, beginning at verse 1. 

SPEECH: Homily by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon 

In early January this year I visited the Vatican to attend the first public papal audience of the Jubilee Year which has the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. Pope Francis was joyful as many circus performers were invited to come forward and show off their skills to the delight of everyone. When my turn came to have a brief word with the Holy Father, he was smiling but breathless and held my hand with both hands to draw me nearer to him for a word of encouragement. Even though he was in obvious discomfort he showed his care for the people of Liverpool archdiocese, and he asked for prayers for himself. Whenever I met him and introduced myself as archbishop of Liverpool he would smile and say, ‘Ah Liverpool, the Napoli of England!’ He was a pastor who had the personal touch. He was always able to make a small, often humorous connection, which meant so much to people. In 2018 when the English and Welsh bishops met in a group with Pope Francis for a two-hour conversation, he told us that when he was elected pope a great peace descended on him, and that it had never left him. He hoped that we all shared in that peace in our ministry as bishops. It was a remark that went deep with me.

 Personal encounter was at the forefront of Francis’ ministry and doubtlessly he was very aware of the impact he made but we would be wrong to think that his ministry was simply about him. In his first document after being elected pope in 2013, The Joy of the Gospel, he makes it very clear that it is about Jesus, he begins:

The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. (EG:1)

 For Francis this was an encounter which would make the church more dynamic reaching out to the peripheries of society, becoming more missionary in character. He appointed cardinals from remote places both socially and geographically. Tonga, Haiti and Mongolia had never had cardinals before, but Francis wanted their voices to be heard not just as his advisers but in the next papal election. These like many of his gestures had a practical purpose. When he greeted the homeless and the poor of Rome he backed this up with showers and food for their personal care. He acted locally and globally. His personal friendships and meetings with leaders of other faiths was enlarged in his encyclical letter Fratelli Tutti to remind all people that they were united by their humanity and this preceded their differences.

 Francis vision for the environment and protecting ‘our common home’, the earth on which we all live and depend was given the title, ‘Laudato Sí’, ‘praise be to you’ - after the canticle of his patron St Francis.

 In Francis we had a man with a breadth of vision and enormous personal courage who was not afraid to speak to the church and the world. That courage came from his personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, of that there is no doubt. He trusted in the Lord absolutely and totally. His Jesuit formation had taught him to nourish his friendship with our Lord and as a Jesuit Leader in the dark days of his home country he had learnt the hard way that standing up to evil forces was possible and that good would prevail.

 Pope Francis has now taken the final step on his personal pilgrimage. He will now be with other Pilgrims of Hope who never let the light of hope dim in their hearts.

May he rest in peace. 

INTERCESSIONS

[PRESIDER] In the face of the death of our Holy Father, Francis, 

let us ask God our Father to soften our sorrow, arouse our hope, 

and renew our confidence through his Son’s victory over death. 

[READER] 

That through the example of the life of Pope Francis, the universal Church may more boldly proclaim the message of salvation and the reign of God’s Spirit in our time.

Lord in your mercy 

Hear our prayer 

That Francis’s love for the gospel of mercy and justice, and the Eucharistic presence of the risen Lord may be our pledge and support as we journey through life and death to our eternal home.

Lord in your mercy 

Hear our prayer 

That the person chosen to carry on the ministry of Peter will go out to preach the Gospel, speaking the language of our world today and proclaiming peace and trust in Christ.

Lord in your mercy 

Hear our prayer 

That Jesus, who is our resurrection and life, may give to our brother, Francis and all who have died in the service of the gospel, joy in God’s presence forever.

Lord in your mercy 

Hear our prayer 

[PRESIDER] Loving and gracious God, hear the prayers for our faithful departed, especially for your servant, Pope Francis. 

May they enter into the fullness of peace which you alone can give. 

We ask this through our risen Saviour, Christ our Lord. Amen. 

MUSIC: CHOIR ‘JUSTORUM ANIMAE’ STANFORD 

SPEECH (PRESIDER) 

 EUCHARISTIC PRAYER (SUNG BY PRESIDER/ CHOIR) 

MUSIC: SANCTUS

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus, 

Deus Sabaoth. 

Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. 

Hosanna in excelsis. 

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts, 

heaven and earth are full of your glory. 

Hosanna in the highest. 

(Faure Requiem) 

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER (SAID BY PRESIDER) 

SPEECH (PRESIDER) 

The Lord's Prayer 

THE PEACE (DEACON) 

SPEECH – INVITATION TO COMMUNION (PRESIDER) 

MUSIC: AGNUS DEI 

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: 

miserere nobis. 

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: 

dona eis requiem. Lamb of God, you take away the sins 

of the world. Have mercy on us. 

Lamb of God, you take away the sins 

of the world. Grant us peace. 

(Mass XVIII Gregorian Chant) 

SPEECH: COLLECT (PRESIDER) 

SPEECH: BLESSING (PRESIDER) 

MUSI: IN PARADISUM - FAURE 

Radio 4 closing announcement 

That Requiem Mass for Pope Francis was recorded in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. The homily was given by Archbishop Patrick McMahon, and the Celebrant was Canon Anthony O’Brien. The Metropolitan Cathedral Choir was directed by Joe Watson and the organist was Richard Lea. The producer was Philip Billson.