With heavy hearts, the Jesuits in Britain mourn the death of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, whose leadership has profoundly shaped the Church in our time. His formation within the Society of Jesus instilled in him a gift of discernment, a sense of closeness to God, and a deep commitment to serving the marginalised and the voiceless, which he embodied throughout his ministry.
At the heart of Pope Francis's message was the joy of the Gospel. As he shared in Evangelii Gaudium, “the joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness, and loneliness.” This vision will continue to resonate deeply with us, reminding us that true joy comes from our relationship with God and one another.
He consistently advocated for the dignity of the poor and vulnerable, urging us to be “men and women for others.” His encyclical, Laudato Si’, has inspired us to care for our common home, calling us to confront the ecological crisis with both urgency and compassion—a teaching that has been vital for our Province and has inspired our own commitment to sustainable practices.
In his quest for unity, Pope Francis built bridges between religions, as well as fostering good ecumenical relations. His meetings with leaders across denominations, including the last Archbishop of Canterbury, and the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in 2019 demonstrate his belief in the transformative power of dialogue and peace, so needed in today’s world.
He showed pastoral courage in facing up to the worldwide sexual abuse crisis, his encouragement to embrace solidarity and advocate for fair vaccine access during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his demand that the dignity of refugees and migrants be respected. He also championed the crucial contribution which young people have to make to the life of the Church, encouraging their active participation through events like World Youth Day.
As a Jesuit, Pope Francis placed discernment at the heart of his papacy, emphasising that the believer’s journey is not only a matter of adhering to rules but also about seeking to hear God’s personal call to us. He embraced a pastoral style marked by accompaniment, attentively observing how God’s Spirit works among the faithful, especially those at the peripheries, and urged us to recognise the presence of the Lord in the signs of the times.
In this moment of profound grief, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and to all who mourn him. We give thanks to God for the gift of his life and ministry, and for the countless ways he has inspired us to deepen our faith and live out our call to love and serve one another. We invite all to join us in prayer for the repose of his soul.
Gracious God, may our hearts be transformed by Pope Francis’s example. Inspire us to carry forward his vision of a more just and compassionate world. As we reflect on the profound impact of his life and teachings, remind us of our sacred call to be instruments of change and reconciliation in our communities and in our world. Amen.
In the peace of Christ,
The Jesuits in Britain
Welcome
There is a stone plaque at the back of St Dominic’s Church which makes you think.
It was blessed in 1989 by Cardinal Basil Hume OSB (a local man) and was fixed there to mark 750 years since the Dominicans first arrived in Newcastle. The city was established by one of William the Conqueror’s sons, and in 1239 the Dominicans came to preach the Good News. They established a Priory in the part of the centre of the city which is still known as Blackfriars today.
Although the Order had to leave because of persecutions, and the priory was demolished as part of Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in 1539, the Dominicans returned to Newcastle in 1860 and bought a site to the east of the city centre constructing a new Priory and church in the years that followed. The building is intertwined with history – two stones from the demolished Blackfriars are built into the arch over the sacristy door and Hadrian’s Wall runs directly underneath.
As part of a re-structuring of their mission in Britain, the Dominicans withdrew from Newcastle in 2016 and as a small Jesuit mission we arrived here in October 2021.
St Ignatius of Loyola used to refer to the Society of Jesus as ‘the least Society’ because he was conscious of the four great Orders – the Benedictines, the Carmelites, the Franciscans and the Dominicans – who were much older and highly revered.
So, for Jesuits, it is an unusual honour to be stationed in a building dedicated to St Dominic, that carries so much local and Church history in a spiritual tradition much older than our own.
Hopefully our presence will be one that builds on this distinguished past and is of service to the people of the Tyne in the future!
