Afterglow: A Focus on the Catholic Parish Summit

April 21, 2025

With sorrow and thankfulness, we join the Church and the world in mourning the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, on Easter Monday — a day enveloped by the light of the Resurrection. A shepherd with a heart for the lost, a voice for the marginalized, and a tireless advocate for a missionary Church, Pope Francis dedicated his life to making the love of Christ known to all.

From his first call to embrace the joy of the Gospel to his unwavering commitment to mercy and evangelization, his papacy was a reminder that the Church does not exist for itself but for the world. His vision for a missionary Church — one that goes to the peripheries, encounters people where they are, and invites them into a life-changing relationship with Jesus — has inspired so many to embrace renewal, including the movement and ministry of Divine Renovation.

As we grieve, we also rejoice in the hope of Easter and give thanks for the witness of his life, his courage, and his call to be a Church on mission. And in this moment of transition, we entrust him to the loving arms of the Father and pray for the College of Cardinals as they prepare to discern his successor.

Let us unite in prayer:

“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.”