The doors are sealed
The ring is broken
The chair is empty
Francis has been called to his place
After his burial in simple style
The conclave will gather
To elect his successor
“Habemus papam”
In affirmation
Of acceptance.
Chris McDonnell 22 April 2025.
Last Sunday morning on Faith Alive on Midwest Radio, Fr Brendan Hoban presented the findings of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. His analysis, in conversation with Monica…
Tue 14th May – Mary’s Meals Three of the Gospels have the account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes where Jesus takes something small that is offered and…
Dublin diocese website carried the Homily notes of Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin on the occasion of the canonisation of John Henry Newman.
“A Catholicism of self-defined certainties will lead eventually to a doubt about all certainties and thus to emptiness. A Catholicism of self-defined certainties and self-importance led to an authoritarian and harsh Irish Catholicism, with consequences we know only too well.”
“I am astonished at the content and tone of daily messages on social media by Catholic pundits on the left and the right that are anything but kindly. There are those who spend all day attacking and responding and feeling that in this they are defending the integrity of Church teaching. The kindly light will never be defended by nastiness and bitterness.”
Vatican News reports The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, tells reporters that Pope Francis is “aware” of the articles about a closed-door conversation with Italian Bishops,…
The ACP offers sincere sympathy to our colleague Brendan Hoban and to his extended family on the death of his brother, Seamus.
MasterChef; Conor McGregor; Donald Trump: Gregg Wallace is in big trouble. After twenty years of being a central character on TV with MasterChef, he has been called out, for his…
Thanks Chris for reminding me on this Divine Mercy Sunday that the empty chair belongs to Peter’s successor.
Who would have thought that a week after that iconic image of Francis’ final blessing from his wheel-chair to the city and the world Presidents Trump and Zelensky would be pictured in St. Peter’s Basilica sitting face to face having a chat? I hope it l gets as much publicity as the one from the WH.
Today on Divine Mercy Sunday – (second day of the Novemdiali) let us recall Cardinal Re’s plea to ‘Franciscus’ at the end of his funeral homily to intercede for the Church, for Rome, and the whole world from heaven:
“Dear Francis, we now ask you to pray for us. May you bless the Church, bless Rome, and bless the whole world from heaven as you did last Sunday from the balcony of this Basilica in a final embrace with all the people of God, but also embrace humanity that seeks the truth with a sincere heart and holds high the torch of hope.”
Many will be sad on this Sunday but I am confident that the Cardinal electors in the forthcoming conclave will appoint the one whom the Holy Spirit will chose to succeed Peter.
Francis reminded us last Sunday of what a wonderful gift it is to bless people with the power and sign of the Cross – of God’s mercy when in union with the successor of Peter.