The Passing of Pope Francis: A Shepherd of Compassion, Courage, and Faith

Dear Ionians,

The Iona College community this week joined Catholics around the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday after his recent battle with illness.

During this week, we offered our morning Mass in the College Chapel for the repose of his soul and all those deceased. It was a fitting way to honour a man who gave his life to prayer, service and the Gospel.

Pope Francis will be remembered as a truly inspirational figure — one who modelled Christian life through humility, courage and a deep sense of justice.

As the first Pope from the southern hemisphere, he brought to the papacy his profound awareness of the struggles of the poor and the excluded. He reminded the Church that the Gospel begins at the margins, and that love without action is incomplete.

He truly lived out St Eugene de Mazenod’s saying of ‘never see a need without doing something about it’.

From his earliest days as pontiff, Pope Francis embodied what we at Iona aspire to each time we pray the College Prayer.

For community members not familiar with our College Prayer, it says:

Lord Jesus,

Fill my soul with your compassion for others;

fire my heart your courage and infinite love;

enlighten my mind with your wisdom;

teach me to reach out to you in my need

and help me lead others to you by my example.

Most loving heart of Jesus,

bring me health in body and spirit

that I may serve you with all my strength

Touch gently this life,

Which you have created,

now and forever

Amen.

“Lord Jesus, fill my soul with your compassion for others…”
Pope Francis was known globally for his boundless compassion. Whether washing the feet of prisoners on Holy Thursday, embracing the sick or calling for a “revolution of tenderness,” he reminded us all that love must be visible, tangible and fearless.

In his care for refugees, the homeless and the forgotten, Pope Francis lived out a compassion founded in shared humanity.

“…fire my heart with your courage and infinite love…”
Courage marked his papacy — from addressing climate change in Laudato si’, to calling for reform and accountability within the Church, to extending unprecedented pastoral outreach to those who may have felt alienated. He showed the kind of leadership that does not cling to comfort but steps boldly into the complexities of our time, always guided by the boundless love of Christ and his fellow human beings.

“…enlighten my mind with your wisdom…”
Pope Francis' wisdom was the practical wisdom of discernment, listening and accompaniment. Through the Synodal process, he invited the global Church to journey together, to listen deeply, and to be open to the voice of the Holy Spirit. He showed us that wisdom is not merely about answers but about being present in the questions of others.

“…help me lead others to you by my example…”
Pope Francis led powerfully by example. His simple lifestyle, his refusal of extravagance, and his preference for personal encounters over being separate from the people of the Church were all signs of a person immersed in the Gospel. He preached with his actions as much as his words, always seeking to draw people closer to Christ.

“…Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve you with all my strength…”
Even as his health declined, Pope Francis continued his mission with gentle perseverance and presence – right up until the day before his death. His physical frailty only made his spiritual strength more visible. He showed us what it means to serve God “with all of my strength” – even when that strength was not what it once was.

Pope Francis genuinely walked with the people of God, listened deeply and challenged us to be a Church of mercy, justice, and peace.

As we said the Iona College Prayer at the beginning of this week, staff and students were invited to remember the way Pope Francis provided an example of compassion, courage and infinite love — thus leading others to God through his own example of humanity and unwavering faith.

May God welcome His servant, Pope Francis, into Heaven and grant him the gift of peace and everlasting life.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.

Finally, I extend a warm welcome back to all Iona families as we begin Term 2. I trust the Easter break was a time of rest, reflection and renewal for your family.

As we continue through the Easter season in the Church’s liturgical calendar, we are reminded that this is a time of hope and new beginnings — a fitting backdrop as we return to learning and growth at the College.

This week also marks the release of Term 1 student reports. These reports provide a valuable snapshot of academic progress, work habits and engagement with learning during the first part of the year.

I encourage you to take time to sit down and read through the reports together and have an honest conversation about the term just gone — what went well, and where improvement can be achieved.

These reflective conversations are crucial in helping our young people become more self-aware and goal-oriented in their learning journey.

To support these conversations, our Student Progress Meetings will take place on Friday 2 May and Monday 5 May.

These meetings are an important opportunity to partner with your son’s teachers, gain deeper insight into his learning progress, and discuss strategies for continued improvement.

I encourage all families to attend these meetings where possible. A strong partnership between home and school is one of the most significant factors in student success.

We look forward to a productive and fulfilling term ahead, filled with academic growth, co-curricular commitment and continued formation in faith and character.

May the spirit of Easter continue to guide us in all that we do.

God bless,

Mr Trevor Goodwin
Principal