Pope Francis died this morning, Easter Monday. Bishop Stephen has paid tribute to him, saying: "At the end of a long but wonderful Easter Day, celebrated by thousands of people all over the diocese, I chose my reading for the Easter week ahead. I have picked the autobiography of Pope Francis I, simply entitled HOPE. I woke this morning to the news of Pope Francis’ death. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. I offer my respect and condolences to all Catholics in our shared communities.
"To have greeted the crowds on Easter Day and to have offered the Easter blessing must have been a comfort to Francis as much as it was to all people of good faith. He was a holy and pastoral leader, a true disciple of Jesus Christ. His dedication to justice and his humble leadership touched millions of people, well beyond the Catholic church.
"On the final page of his book there is one line which sums up for me, what Pope Francis was all about. He wrote: 'Tenderness is not weakness. It is a true force.'
Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
The Rt Revd Stephen Lake, Bishop of Salisbury