The Holy Father died this morning.

On hearing news of the Pope’s death, Archbishop Nolan said:

“I share the sense of loss of millions of people around the globe at the passing of Pope Francis.  Sadness is our first and most natural reaction at a time like this.

“The whole Church, and indeed the wider world should be very grateful to God for the gift of this Pope. Although his pontificate has been controversial at times it has been a blessing for the Church and for wider society.

“He will be remembered for many things … but his emphasis on the great love and mercy of God and his reminder to the Church that it should always bring God's mercy and love to all was perhaps his most repeated call.

“He did not see the Church as a tribunal sitting in judgement of the world, but rather what he called a ‘field hospital’ tending to the wounds and hurts of human beings.

“When he visited the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome shortly after his election, he called out to the priests in the confessionals, ‘Mercy. Forgive everyone. Always mercy …’ and that was his trademark message.

“He used his ability to speak to people in a language they understood to great effect. That partly explains his huge popularity. He had no pomposity or sense of superiority about him, indeed he was forever asking people to pray for him.

“His constant call to governments and individuals to care for the earth, our common home, was a key strand of his message. Another was the ever-timely call to welcome the refugee and asylum seeker, and to recognise the human dignity of the poor and less fortunate.

“I remember his powerful exhortation to us … when we give alms to someone who is begging on the streets, not to casually toss a coin in their direction, but to get down to their level, to look them in the eye, to touch their hand and to express care and fraternal love.

“He was the Pope of mercy, the Pope of welcome and the Pope of the environment.

“He lived his life with faith in God. May God now welcome him into eternal life.”