Statement from the Williams Catholic Board Following the Death of Pope Francis on Monday, April 21, 2025
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the global Catholic Church. He dedicated his life to service and humanity. He has worked to make the Catholic Church open to all of Jesus’s followers and was a proponent for peace. As we mourn his death, we invite the Williams community to reflect on what was in his prayers as he departed. As he shared in his final Easter address, “The light of Easter impels us to break down the barriers that create division and are fraught with grave political and economic consequences. It impels us to care for one another, to increase our mutual solidarity, and to work for the integral development of each human person.” As he taught us throughout the years, the answer lies in the community and not the individual. No matter what your faith is, we hope you will join us in the world he envisioned, one grounded in mercy and compassion.