23/04/2025
The St Vincent de Paul Society in England and Wales joins the rest of the world in mourning for His Holiness Pope Francis. Pope Francis's main mission throughout his papacy was to remind us to love the poor, the disadvantaged, and the displaced. Pope Francis's recent encyclical, Dilexit Nos ("He Loved Us"), focused on the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus Christ. It called for a renewed devotion to the Sacred Heart, highlighting its importance for healing wounds, strengthening love and service, and fostering fraternity and care for creation. He used St Vincent de Paul, as the patron saint of all charities, to show that our vision "Turning Faith into Action" achieves that goal, and takes us to a Christ-centred world, where the hope we bring to the poor can change their lives.
In 2017, the Vincentian Family was blessed by Pope Francis, in a moving ceremony at St Peter's Square, Rome. There were over 7,000 of us at that blessing - a sea of Vincentians celebrating 400 years of the Vincentian Charism. An extraordinarily moving occasion.
May he rest in everlasting peace.
Elaine Heyworth
National President
St Vincent de Paul Society
(England and Wales)