The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Pope Francis RIP

17th December 1936 – 21st April 2025

May he rest in peace

Message of Bishop Keenan President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

It was with deep sadness that we woke to the news that Pope Francis has died and we share in the sense of loss of millions of people across the world. It is a consolation to us that he went to the LORD on Easter Monday and the great Easter Day as a sort of first fruits of the salvation which the Risen Christ shares with His Church.

We thank GOD for the Pope’s service which was always human and humble in its informal style and with a message of GOD’s universal love and unconditional mercy that brought hope to so many.

A man of the poor who lived simply, Pope Francis was a voice for the voiceless and all those who find themselves on the margins in our world. A man of peace, he called the Church to listen to everyone, to move forward together as a family, to find a conciliatory approach to those of different beliefs and lifestyles, for an end to conflicts across the world and for the care of Creation as GOD’s precious gift to humanity.

He gave of himself to the end, offering up his final illness with serenity, his last acts being to visit Rome’s prison on Holy Thursday and to wish the crowds gathered in Saint Peter’s a Happy Easter.

We pray he will be enjoying the full fruits of the Resurrection, resting from his work, his good deeds going with him.

May he rest in peace.

Bishop John Keenan

The Roman Catholic Bishops in Scotland work together to undertake nationwide initiatives through their Commissions and Agencies.

The members of the Bishops' Conference are the Bishops of the eight Scottish Dioceses. Where appropriate the Bishops Emeriti (retired) provide a much welcomed contribution to the work of the conference. The Bishops' Conference of Scotland is a permanently constituted assembly which meets regularly throughout the year to address relevant business matters.

Click here to visit the Jubilee 2025 website

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,

may the faith you have given us

in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth,

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,

your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

Webinar - Celebrating 10 Years of Laudato Si - Raising Hope for Climate Justice - Wednesday 23rd April, 7.30pm-9pm

News from the Commissions and Agencies

January 2025

31Jan

The Diocese of Paisley Podcast | Tommy Burns - The Cause for Canonisation: Patrick O'Hara looks at the possible opening of a Cau...

31 Jan, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://share.transistor.fm/s/11ba9bd1

The Diocese of Paisley Podcast | Tommy Burns - The Cause for Canonisation: Patrick O'Hara looks at the possible opening of a Cause for Canonisation of Scottish football legend.

Featuring Patrick O'Hara; Christopher McLaughlin - Tommy Burns Cause for Canonisation coordinating team. To contact the Tommy Burns Cause for Canonisation coordinating team please email: contact@tommyburns.org.

31Jan

📢CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO INSIST ISRAEL OVERTUN UNRWA BAN

31 Jan, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

📢CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO INSIST ISRAEL OVERTUN UNRWA BAN

🚫UNRWA, the UN agency that supports the relief and development of the Palestinian refugee population, has been banned from operating following an act passed by the Israeli government.

❌The ban will jeopardise the lives, education and healthcare of millions of Palestinians across the Occupied Palestinian Territory and risks undermining the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

🏥No entity can replace UNRWA owing to the scale of its operations across Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. UNRWA operates 140 primary health facilities and 706 schools.

📃Foreign Ministers from the UK, France & Germany have issued a statement underscoring their support for UNRWA’s mandate to operate in the region and urged Israel to abide by its international obligations and ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance and the provision of basic services to the civilian population.

📢 Justice & Peace Scotland add our voice to the many urging the international community to demand that the Israeli authorities urgently overturn the ban and allow UNRWA unhindered delivery of its crucial services. You can help by sharing these calls and by contacting your MP urging them to advocate for the protection of UNRWA and its services.

📷Image credit: UNRWA USA

31Jan

Saint John Bosco | Franciscan Media

31 Jan, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-john-bosco/

Inspired by Saint Francis de Sales, Saint John Bosco founded the Salesians to continue his work among boys. Then, joining forces with Mary Mazzarello, he helped found the Salesian Sisters. All this during a time when established religious communities in Italy were closing their doors.

30Jan

Photos from SCIAF's post

30 Jan, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

29Jan

Diocese of Motherwell Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2025 - Joe Walsh Tours

29 Jan, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://joewalshtours.co.uk/tours/diocese-of-motherwell-pilgrimage-to-lourdes-2025/#booking-form

The Diocese of Motherwell Pilgrimage to Lourdes takes place from 14th to 21st July 2025, under the leadership of The Bishop of Motherwell Right Reverend

28Jan

Jerusalem bishop to speak in Scotland about suffering of Christians in Holy Land - The Tablet

28 Jan, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/jerusalem-bishop-to-speak-in-scotland-about-suffering-of-christians-in-holy-land/

Bishops from the Holy Land and Nigeria are among the speakers scheduled to speak at anb ACN conference in Scotland on the suffering and persecution of Christians.

28Jan

Aid to the Church in Need | Scottish Catholic Conference

28 Jan, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://acnuk.org/event/scottish-catholic-conference/

Scottish Catholic Conference Start: 29 Mar 2025 9:30 ▪ End: 29 Mar 2025 16:00 ▪ Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3NY facebook twitter email Please join us for our first ever ACN Scottish Catholic Conference, ‘Courage to Be Catholic’. This special event will bring ...

28Jan

📖Today we celebrate the feast day of the renowned Catholic theologian, philosopher, and writer St Thomas Aquinas

28 Jan, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

📖Today we celebrate the feast day of the renowned Catholic theologian, philosopher, and writer St Thomas Aquinas.

💬In the highly charged political landscapes of 2025 where rhetoric and language is often hateful, and the willingness to dialogue with others of an opposing view is absent from both sides of the political spectrum, this quote from the Doctor of the Church reminds us of the value in engaging in respectful discussion and debate with those whom we disagree. Often there are many narratives that must be heard if we hope to get to the real truth of any disagreement or debate.

28Jan

Pange Lingua Gloriosi - Tantum Ergo Sacramentum Corpus Christi Maundy Thursday Eucharistic Adoration

28 Jan, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://youtu.be/4apJNn2Y-ds?si=QX4HW-DEU5Qdes1L
Written by St Thomas Aquinas

Arrangment by Caitlin Foster 2022Sung by: Caitlin Foster, Emma Drzycimski, Michael Foster, and John GriffithTranslation by: Edward Caswall, C.O. (1814–1878)P...

28Jan

Saint Thomas Aquinas | Franciscan Media

28 Jan, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-thomas-aquinas/

Saint Thomas Aquinas is well known for his writings, especially the "Summa Theologica." But he was far more than a philosopher/theologian. He was a devout man who wrote beautiful prayers and hymns. Perhaps the best known is the "Pange Lingua."