Archbishop Vukšić: Pope Francis, friend and brother of every man, has fallen asleep

(Patria) - The Archbishop of Vrhbosna and Metropolitan, Mons. Tomo Vukšić, on Easter Monday, 21 April, on the occasion of the death of Pope Francis, sent a Circular to priests, religious, nuns and all the faithful of the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna, which we transmit in full:

"I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting!

On the morning of Easter Monday, while the joyful news of the resurrection of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our hope, resounds throughout the world, Pope Francis has fallen asleep, by the grace of God a witness and preacher of hope, a friend and brother of every man, a priest and bishop of Jesus, who, as the successor of the Apostle Peter, by Jesus' will strengthened brothers and sisters in faith (cf. Lk 22:32).

We are grateful to the Lord God that, in His providence, He entrusted him with the exercise of the charism and ministry at the head of the entire church community of Jesus' faithful, which He initially entrusted to the Apostle Peter with the words: 'You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven' (Mt 16:18-19).

Full of faith in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting, we pray for God's mercy to reward His faithful servant, the late Pope Francis, with eternal life.

May the angels lead him into paradise, and may the saints and martyrs receive him at his coming!

I invite all priests, religious, nuns and all other faithful of Christ in the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna to unite in personal prayer for the late Pope Francis, and I decree that on the day of his burial, in all parish and other communities where Holy Mass is celebrated, a prayer intention for the repose of his soul shall also be included.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord!", he said.