Pope Leo XIV's Message on the Anniversary of Pope Francis "Death is not a wall, but a door that opens out onto the Mercy that Pope Francis tirelessly proclaimed" FULL TEXT

Pope Leo XIV  sent a message sent to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, on the first anniversary of Pope Francis' death. Cardinal Re read Pope Leo's message to those gathered at the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major - where Pope Francis is buried - during the Mass celebrated to commemorate the anniversary of his death on April 21. Pope Leo lamented being absent from Rome on the occasion due to his 11-day Apostolic Journey to four African nations, but reassured those present of his spiritual closeness as he offered words of appreciation for his predecessor and friend.
MESSAGE FROM HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV
TO HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL GIOVANNI BATTISTA RE,
DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS,
ON THE 1ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS
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To His Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re
Dean of the College of Cardinals

On the first anniversary of the death of our beloved Pope Francis, his memory lives on in the Church and throughout the world. As I am away from Rome on an Apostolic Journey in Africa, I join in spirit with all those who will gather in the Liberian Basilica to offer the Eucharistic Sacrifice in memory of my Predecessor. Together with the Cardinals, Bishops, priests and religious, I greet with affection the pilgrims who have come to show him their affection and gratitude.

Death is not a wall, but a door that opens out onto the Mercy that Pope Francis tirelessly proclaimed. The Lord called him to Himself on 21 April last year, in the heart of the Paschal light. He concluded his earthly pilgrimage in the embrace of the Risen Christ, in that “joy of the Gospel” that inspired one of his most incisive Apostolic Exhortations.

He was the Successor of Peter and Shepherd of the universal Church at a time that marked, and continues to mark, an epochal change—a change of which he was fully aware, offering all of us a courageous witness that represents a significant legacy for the Church.

His teaching was lived as a missionary disciple as he liked to say. He remained a disciple of the Lord, faithful to his Baptism and to his consecration in the episcopal ministry, to the very end. He was also a missionary, proclaiming the Gospel of mercy “to everyone, everyone, everyone”, as he often said. The good that came from his witness as a caring Shepherd touched the hearts of so many people, even to the ends of the earth, thanks also to his apostolic pilgrimages and especially to that final “journey” of his illness and his death.

In harmony with his predecessors, he took up the legacy of the Second Vatican Council and urged the Church to be open to mission, a guardian of the world’s hope, passionate about proclaiming that Gospel which is capable of giving every life fulfilment and happiness.

We still hear his exhortations, expressed in eloquent words, to make the Good News more accessible: mercy, peace, brotherhood, the odour of the sheep, the field hospital and many others. Each of these expressions leads us back to the Gospel he lived out in a new language that proclaims the same Gospel as always.

Pope Francis nurtured a deep devotion to Mary throughout his life; indeed, we recall that he visited Saint Mary Major, the site of his burial, on many occasions, as well as numerous Marian shrines around the world. May the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, help us to be, in every circumstance, tireless apostles of her divine Son and prophets of His merciful love.

From the Vatican, 12 April 2026

LEO PP. XIV

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Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 18 April 2026