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

November 2024

12Nov

📢URGENT ACTION

12 Nov, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

📢URGENT ACTION

On 28 October 2024, the Israeli government passed a Bill banning UNRWA, the Palestinian refugee agency, from operating in Israel and Palestine. Our friends EAPPI UK & Ireland say: "This will paralyse the agency’s ability to provide life-saving humanitarian aid and other essential services at this time of immeasurable need. Humanitarian organisations around the world are united - no other agency can provide the aid at the scale and speed that’s needed in Gaza. The consequences of banning the agency’s operations will be catastrophic - we must act now."

📝Write to your MP today to ask them to take action to protect UNRWA
🔗EAPPI UK & Ireland have created a letter you can send with a few clicks at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yc45jh4j
🔁Share the call to action.

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11Nov

This Thursday we will come together at lunch time in St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow, and we invite you to join us to pray for al...

11 Nov, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

This Thursday we will come together at lunch time in St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow, and we invite you to join us to pray for all those involved in COP29 in Azerbaijan and for the world to love and care for our common home. ⛪

"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters." - Psalm 24: 1 - 2 🙏

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11Nov

Photos from Justice and Peace Scotland's post

11 Nov, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

As the COP29 climate summit begins today in Baku, Azerbaijan, we share this prayer written by our friends CAFOD and ask our supporters to pray that world leaders and all delegates may prioritise people, planet and care for our common home during all discussions, decision-making and action over the coming days. 🙏🌍

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06Nov

We are at a pivotal point in Scotland's climate journey

06 Nov, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

We are at a pivotal point in Scotland's climate journey. Legislation to revise Scotland's legal climate framework has now passed, and the Scottish elections are on the horizon.

We’ve joined over 70 organisations and called on the First Minister to act and commit increased fair funding to:

🚏 Enable people to walk, wheel and cycle safely, and get about quickly and easily on an affordable and reliable public transport network;

🏠Power our homes through cleaner forms of heating and ensure they are properly insulated, protecting households from the risk of fuel poverty and improving health.

👩‍🌾 Support farmers, crofters and fisheries to manage our land and seas in ways that protect and restore nature and reduce emissions, cutting food waste and promoting healthy and sustainable diets; and

♻️ Help people develop the skills needed for a new low carbon, circular economy, and deploy fast, fair and managed plans to fully transition away from reliance on polluting fossil fuels.

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05Nov

Will you join Justice & Peace Scotland, SCIAF and the Bishops' Conference of Scotland's Office for the Care of Creation in Glasg...

05 Nov, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

Will you join Justice & Peace Scotland, SCIAF and the Bishops' Conference of Scotland's Office for the Care of Creation in Glasgow next Thursday to pray for the success of COP29? All information in the flyer below. 👇

“I ask everyone to accompany this pilgrimage of reconciliation with the world that is our home and to help make it more beautiful.” Pope Francis, Laudate Deum 69.🌎💚

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05Nov

This promises to be an insightful and interesting talk if you are in or around the Glasgow area and are free on Thursday evening...

05 Nov, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

This promises to be an insightful and interesting talk if you are in or around the Glasgow area and are free on Thursday evening!

This week we welcome the Newman Association's lecturer and distinguished guest. Professor Mary McAleese - 8th President of Ireland and Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin - will speak on "Human Rights and Church Law". Thursday 7th November at 7.30 in the Immaculate Conception Church hall. All welcome. (Please share this post for us)

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04Nov

At the Bishops’ Conference November meeting Bishop Keenan was elected president of the Conference Bishop McGee vice-president an...

04 Nov, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

At the Bishops’ Conference November meeting Bishop Keenan was elected president of the Conference Bishop McGee vice-president and Bishop McKenzie episcopal secretary. Many thanks to Bishop Gilbert who retired as president. 🙏

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02Nov

Today, on this All Souls’ Day, we pray for all the faithful departed that they may find eternal rest in the kingdom of Heaven

02 Nov, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Today, on this All Souls’ Day, we pray for all the faithful departed that they may find eternal rest in the kingdom of Heaven.

Listen kindly to our prayers, O Lord,
and, as our faith in your Son,
raised from the dead, is deepened,
so may our hope of resurrection for your departed servants
also find new strength.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

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01Nov

A post from Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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

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October 2024

30Oct

The Pilot Annual Report on Safeguarding by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors just launched

30 Oct, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The Pilot Annual Report on Safeguarding by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors just launched. The Report was made at the request of Pope Francis in 2022: “I would like you, on an annual basis, to prepare for me a report on the Church’s initiatives for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults... This report will be a factor of transparency and accountability and — I hope — will provide a clear audit of our progress in this effort.” The Annual Report offers an analysis of several Church entities and includes:
- A detailed profile;
- A Safeguarding overview;
- The Commission’s critical observations of the Safeguarding challenges faced;
- The Commission’s ensuing recommendations

The Report details the progress as well as the existing gaps in Safeguarding procedures and protocols. Read the complete Annual Report through the link https://www.tutelaminorum.org/annual-report/

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