21-04-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Hundreds gather for Glasgow Mass to celebrate the life of Pope Francis
More than 400 attended the service, organised at short notice as news of the pontiff's death spread.
Glasgow Archbishop William Nolan said that he hadn't been expecting to preach about the pope, who seemed to be getting better after a bout of ill-health.
But he was not surprised by the numbers who came to honour the man who led the Catholic Church worldwide, such was the affection he was held with in Scotland.
Archbishop of Glasgow William Nolan conducts the Mass at St Andrews Catholic Cathedral in Glasgow (Image: GT) Archbishop Nolan said: 'I wasn't sure how I would react when the Pope died. I feel a sense of loss, but also a sense of blessing. He's been a blessing to the church, and he's been a blessing to the world.
'It helps that it comes at this time of year – Easter – with the sense of the resurrection and new life and returning home.
'People (of Glasgow and across Scotland) were very supportive of the Pope. They were very keen on his message of social justice and his support for immigrants and the poor, and seeing the poor as fellow human beings and treating them with dignity.'
He added: 'That message struck a chord with the Catholics of Scotland.'
More than 400 people packed into the cathedral for the service (Image: GT) Vatican official Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced Francis's death on Monday morning, saying he had 'returned to the home of the Father'.
The Pope's death at the age of 88 came after he emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people in St Peter's Square in Vatican City.
He had recently resumed some official duties after being treated in hospital for pneumonia.
Though the news only broke at 9am, a message posted on social media calling the faithful to celebrate his life at Glasgow's catholic cathedral was shared more than 30,000 times by the time the service started at lunchtime.
While there was sadness among the congregation, there was also joy that a man they had looked up to for 12 years had joined God after a rich and fulfilling life.
People came from cross Glasgow (Image: GT) Linda Fagan, from Glasgow, was one who attended the service. She said: 'He was a Pope of our time. He had so much compassion for everyone, regardless of their faith or anything about them.
'He loved people. He also wasn't scared to speak to politicians. He didn't confront them in an angry way, he just reminded them of God's message – which is love and compassion, and how we should always look after those who were not well off.
'To be here, and to celebrate the life of a man who has gone on a journey back to God is special. He was a man of God.'
Nicky Campbell, also from Glasgow, said that Pope Francis had 'given to his last'
He said: 'After watching him yesterday (on Easter Sunday) he was clearly struggling, but had given his last time to the people.
'He was quite a rebellious Pope, compared to the previous one. He went out to the people to feed the homeless and pray with them.
'He was not just 'Vatican-centric'. He was for the people of the world.'
Anne Tunney travelled from Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, to attend the Mass (Image: GT) In one of his first public pronouncements as pontiff, Francis declared: 'Who am I to judge?' in response to a question about homosexuality.
Anne Tunney, from Alexandria in West Dunbartonshire, had travelled to Glasgow after hearing about the specially-arranged Mass.
She said that Pope Francis she had been inspired by Pope Francis after reading his book, and that the comment on homosexuality had resonated with her.
She said she would pray for the next pontiff to be of the same mind.
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Speaking to the congregation during the service, Archbishop Nolan had said that it was clear the people of Scotland had grown close to the Pope during his 12 years leading the Catholic Church.
He said: 'He was loved y so many people - not just Catholics, but non-Catholics also. And his passing is a cause of sadness.
'But the fact that he died on Easter Monday reminds us that death is not the end. Yes, there is sadness at our loss but there is a moment of fulfilment as his life comes to its end.'
