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The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Habemus Papam

Papal crest, crossed keys and triple mitre crown

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Credit: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo

LEO XIV

8th May 2025

Read more about Pope Leo XIV

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland welcomes the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Cardinal Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, as Pope Leo XIV. It asks all Catholics in Scotland to pray for the new Pope as he begins his ministry.

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.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

https://www.holyyear2025.org.uk

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

May 2025
Revs Mark Cassidy and Nick Welsh Rector and Vice Rector of Pont Scot College together with Fr Gerry Maguiness General Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference concelebrating the Inauguration Mass later

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St Peter’s Square getting ready for the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo 🙏



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https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/world/europe/robert-prevost-pope-leo-xiv.html


A résumé of deep religious education, frontline pastoral experience, parish management and Vatican governance — along with a nudge from Pope Francis — put Robert Prevost on the fast track.
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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/rite-inauguration-petrine-ministry-leo-xiv-symbolism-rites.html


The celebration marking the official beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate on May 18 is a solemn liturgy. The rite highlights the bond with the ...
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The Hebrides are especially beautiful during this warm and sunny spell. However, the natural tranquility has been routinely disturbed by military exercises: the sounds and flashes caused by the firing from both land missiles and warships. The weapons aim away from the islands into the sea but many parishioners have told me that they find the experience frightening, particularly when they think of the harm being inflicted upon people where powerful weapons are being fired today such as in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. Pope Francis insisted that war is always a defeat while since his first address Pope Leo has asked us to embrace peace. The Popes didn’t invent these teachings; they are rooted in the Gospel. The statue of Our Lady of the Isles invites us to walk the alternative path of the Prince of Peace. I recognise that life is complex but as Christians our choices must be discerned in the light of the Gospel.
+Brian
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The Catholic Headteachers Association of Scotland conference concludes today in Lanarkshire.

Bishop Joseph Toal (Motherwell Diocese), Bishop Frank Dougan (RC Diocese of Galloway) and Archbishop Leo Cushley (Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh) took part this morning in prayer and conversation.

The Conference theme is 'Catholic Schools: Pilgrims of Hope' and it's a chance for headteachers to think about their leadership and how they can give hope to all those who they work with.







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


Acts of the Apostles records that Saint Matthias was selected by the early Church to replace Judas Iscariot in the ranks of the apostles. We know little more about him except that he was a witness to Jesus from his baptism to his ascension.
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Statement of Bishop Keenan, President of the Bishops' Conference, following the first stage vote at Holyrood on Assisted Suicide:
I am deeply disappointed that our Parliament has taken the first step to permit the state to provide vulnerable people with the means to end their lives prematurely.
Many MSPs, however, expressed significant reservations about the terms of Liam McArthur's Bill.
I hope and pray that MSPs will take time to reflect very carefully on these concerns and reject the Bill before it is passed into law.
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The Motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament last week to celebrate the election of the Holy Father by Paul O'Kane MSP.
That the Parliament welcomes the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope on the second day of the Papal Conclave, following the death of the late Pope Francis; notes that he has chosen the name, Pope Leo XIV; further notes his extensive time as a missionary in Peru, his role as Bishop of Chiclayo, and his leadership in the Church as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America; acknowledges that he was born in Chicago, thus becoming the first Pope from the United States of America, but that he also has international connections with his parents being of Spanish and Franco-Italian descent, and him speaking multiple languages, including Spanish, Italian and French; celebrates with the Catholic community in Scotland and around the world upon the election of the new Holy Father; wishes him well in his Pontificate, and acknowledges his first words as Pope from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica regarding "building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.”

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