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

News from the Commissions and Agencies

February 2025

11Feb

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling place for Thy Son, we humbly beseech Thee ...

11 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling place for Thy Son, we humbly beseech Thee that we, who celebrate the apparition of the same Blessed Virgin, may obtain health of soul and body through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever Amen

10Feb

A post from Bishops' Conference of Scotland

10 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

10Feb

Proclamation of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes at the torchlight procession

10 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Proclamation of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes at the torchlight procession

09Feb

Into the Deep: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

09 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://stpaulcenter.com/audio/sunday-bible-reflections/into-the-deep-scott-hahn-reflects-on-the-fifth-sunday-in-ordinary-time/

Simon Peter, the fisherman, is the first to be called personally by Jesus in Luke’s Gospel.His calling resembles Isaiah’s commissioning in the First Reading: Confronted with the holiness of the Lord, both Peter and Isaiah are overwhelmed by a sense of their own sinfulness and inadequacy. Yet

09Feb

A post from Bishops' Conference of Scotland

09 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

08Feb

Saint Josephine Bakhita | Franciscan Media

08 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-josephine-bakhita/
Pray for all victims of trafficking especially in our communities

Kidnapped at the age of nine and being too terrified to remember her name, Josephine acquired the name “Bakhit” which means “fortunate one.”

07Feb

Report from BCOS Meeting Online 30th Jan 2025

07 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Report from BCOS Meeting Online 30th Jan 2025
At their recent online meeting, the first of 2025, the Bishops’ Conference discussed the following items:
- The various consultation documents from the Synod Office of the Holy See regarding the selection of bishops, formation of seminarians and clergy and the role of Papal nuncios. These form part of the 10 working groups appointed by our Holy Father, Pope Francis.
- The plans for a study day for the Bishops on the final document of the Synod to take place at the Ignatian Centre at the end of February.
- Archbishop Nolan reported on his recent visit to the Holy Land as part of the International Coordination group. He commented that the parish in Gaza had been supporting 60.000 people.
- The Bishops considered the latest meeting with the Board of the Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency.
- The Annual Cardinal Winning lecture to be held on 1st March to mark the 25th anniversary of the merger of St Andrew’s College and University of Glasgow was highlighted.
- There was a discussion about the consequences of the draconian anti-abortion buffer zone legislation and its consequences for freedom of conscience and freedom of expression.
- Bishop Keenan spoke about his recent trip to Uganda to plan the pastoral placement for students for the priesthood during their pastoral year.
- Hopes were expressed for a nationwide visit of the relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, soon to be canonised, in autumn of this year.
- Bishop Keenan looked forward to his visit to various dicasteries of the Holy See in February, as President of the Conference.
- Bishops Keenan and McGee reported on the liaison meeting of the hierarchies of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland that took place the first of January in London.
The Conference now looks forward to its plenary meeting, in person, during March at Schoenstatt, Clachan of Campsie.

07Feb

King Charles and Queen Camilla to visit Pope Francis | CNN

07 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/02/06/
King to make pilgrimage for Holy Year

King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel to Italy and the Vatican in April to meet with Pope Francis, as the Catholic Church celebrates a special Jubilee year, which takes place every quarter of a century.

07Feb

SCIAF blessed by Pope Francis | ICN

07 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51665

SCIAF - the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland - has been congratulated on 60 years of service to the world's poor by none other than the Pope himself. Pope Francis sent a Papal blessing all the way from Rome to the humanitarian charity, which was founded in R...

06Feb

A post from Bishops' Conference of Scotland

06 Feb, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |