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

Read the Pastoral Letter on Assisted Suicide - National Day of Prayer - April 2025

Pastoral Letter on Assisted Suicide - National Day of Prayer - April 2025 Click to open

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

News from the Commissions and Agencies

Archive by category: BCoS FacebookReturn

April 2024

04Apr

What is the season of Eastertide and how long is it?

04 Apr, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://aleteia.org/2024/04/02/what-is-the-season-of-eastertide-and-how-long-is-it/

Eastertide is simply another name for the Easter Season and refers to the time after Easter when the Church focuses on Jesus' resurrection.

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03Apr

Scottish assisted dying bill a 'dangerous idea' says Catholic Church

03 Apr, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24217810.assisted-dying-bill-dangerous-says-catholic-church/

The Catholic Church has described the assisted dying bill which will be voted on by the Scottish Parliament as a "dangerous idea" which…

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03Apr

Easter under the bombs in Zaporizhzhia - Vatican News

03 Apr, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-04/easter-under-fire-zaporizhzhia.html

We speak to the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Visvaldas Kulbokas, who spent Easter in Ukraine under heavy Russian bombardment.

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03Apr

Pope appeals for ceasefire in Gaza - Vatican News

03 Apr, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-appeals-for-ceasefire-in-gaza.html

Pope Francis makes his latest vehement plea for a ceasefire in Gaza, and appeals, once again, for "working tirelessly" for an end to the war, ...

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03Apr

The SCSSA website has been refreshed with new content and style. It now uses 4 main pages to 'speak to' the various users who b...

03 Apr, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The SCSSA website has been refreshed with new content and style. It now uses 4 main pages to 'speak to' the various users who browse for safeguarding news, information and advice. https://www.scssa.org.uk
? LISTENING assures abuse survivors that, if they come forward to tell of their experiences, they will be treated with respect and compassion. It also advises anyone hearing a disclosure of abuse how to respond in the first instance
? LEARNING speaks to the importance of all safeguarding personnel in the Church - clergy, religious, employees and volunteers - continuing to learn about abuse and how to respond to disclosures. It is intended to become a gateway into various learning opportunities.
? IMPROVING highlights the SCSSA's primary purpose in monitoring adherence to the Church's Safeguarding standards, as set out in the document 'In God's Image'. It will provide guidance on approaches to self-evaluating and improving safeguarding practice.
? INFORMING provides an opportunity for anyone to "keep in touch' with the SCSSA by subscribing to its news updates.
Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh Archdiocese of Glasgow Galloway Diocese RC Diocese of Aberdeen Diocese of Argyll & the Isles Motherwell Diocese Diocese of Paisley Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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01Apr

The easily forgotten truth about the Resurrection

01 Apr, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://aleteia.org/2024/03/30/the-easily-forgotten-truth-about-the-resurrection/

Without the Resurrection, nothing else we believe really matters. Christ rising from the dead is the linchpin of our whole faith.

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01Apr

The Regina Caeli prayer gives Easter joy in just a few seconds

01 Apr, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://aleteia.org/2017/05/29/need-a-taste-of-heaven-and-a-shot-of-joy-try-the-very-short-easter-prayer/

Short and easy, this prayer dates to the 6th century

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March 2024

31Mar

The Exsultet (Easter Proclamation)

31 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://youtu.be/YETnSx9HuMo?si=EzdEGBF8KvFRzXs5

Br. Pádraig McIntyre OSB sings the Exsultet, or Easter Proclamation, which is sung in the light of the paschal candle at the Easter Vigil. This great poetic ...

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31Mar

Bishops' Conference of Scotland

31 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

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31Mar

Pope Francis at Easter Urbi et Orbi: Christ is risen! All begins anew! - Vatican News

31 Mar, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-remembers-world-conflicts-at-urbi-et-orbi.html

Following the Easter Sunday Mass, Pope Francis delivers his Easter message and blessing "To the City and the World," praying especially for the Holy ...

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