a church on the move

Statement on the death of Pope Francis

The Episcopal Church in Europe joins with the church throughout the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis. A tireless champion of the poor, the vulnerable, and the margnialized, he challenged Christians everywhere to examine fearlessly the places where our practices and polities are not aligned with the Gospel’s call to the fundamental dignity of each human person—and to work in our own settings to close the gaps.

We in the Convocation saw Pope Francis not only as a preeminent Chrisitan leader, but as the Bishop of Rome as a neighbor and friend. Through the work of the Anglican Centre in Rome, we know the blessing of close and cordial contacts with the Vatican, and throughout his papacy we have been deeply touched by the Pope’s eager engagement with the Anglican Communion. He met and welcomed bishops of the Episcopal Church on many occasions, and in his seeking greater welcome within the Roman Catholic Church for our LGBTQIA siblings we found support and encouragement for our own church’s continuing work in that cause.

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon him.

We seek to promote a sense of unity and connection among and within our congregations. We provide an inviting, diverse, and supportive environment where members can worship God, grow in their faith, learn from others, and contribute to the broader Episcopal community.