Faith and Mission
Vale Pope Francis
The death of Pope Francis has created quite a lot of commentary and curiosity at St Bede’s College. Many students have noted the significance of his leadership for the Church and the world, whilst also pondering ‘what happens next?’. Consequently, we find ourselves in a rare but rich time in the Church’s story and a somewhat positive attitude from the secular press. Just think to yourself - how many Popes have you seen in your lifetime? It is not a common occurrence, so approach these days and weeks with prayer, trust, hope and a touch of inquisitiveness.
As a faith community, we have leaned into our liturgical life to pray for the life, legacy and repose of the soul of Pope Francis. Religion classes offered a Liturgy of Remembrance for Pope Francis and we also held Memorial Masses at each campus that all students and staff could attend. We are grateful for Fr Huy Nguyen who celebrated Mass at Mentone Campus, and Fr Brian Collins who celebrated Mass at our Bentleigh East Campus, and for the students and staff who attended.
God of Eternal Life,
You have called Pope Francis home.
We entrust him to Your loving arms –
With all the saints, with all the holy ones, with all the people he served.
May his example burn brightly in the heart of every believer.
May we live simply, love deeply, and walk humbly, just like he taught us.
Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord.
Let perpetual light shine upon him.
Do You Know The Papal Coat Of Arms?
During a sede vacante (vacant seat), the Papal Coat of Arms is modified to indicate the absence of a Pope.
The papal tiara, which signifies the Pope's authority, is replaced by an umbraculum (umbrella), and the keys of Peter, which are a constant feature, remain.
The umbraculum represents the temporary authority of the Camerlengo, who administers the property and revenues of the Holy See during the interregnum (a period of discontinuity).
The Conclave
With interest and curiosity, we watch the process of the election of the new Pope. Unlike the recent political elections, the papal election follows a traditional and highly structured process that is rooted in centuries of Catholic Church practice and protocols.
The process is triggered upon the death (or resignation) of the Pope, followed by:
- ‘Sede Vacante’ period (the seat being vacant)
- Calling the Conclave – electors under the age of 80 are called to Rome
- Entering the Conclave – Cardinal electors take an oath of secrecy
- Voting Process – two-thirds majority required to elect new pope
- Black smoke = no decision
- White smoke = a new Pope has been elected
- Counting the Votes – read aloud and tallied
- Acceptance and Name Selection
- Announcement – Habemus Papam – we have a Pope!
At the time of publishing, the Papal Conclave is in session…so we pray:
Prayer for the Papal Conclave
Holy Spirit of God,
As the Cardinals gather to choose our next Pope,
we ask for Your guidance.
Help them to listen to Your voice and not their own,
so they can choose the leader You want for Your Church.
Give them wisdom, patience, and unity so that their hearts and minds are open to You.
May they choose someone who will lead with love,
who will help the Church grow stronger in faith,
and be a true example of Christ’s love in the world.
Mary, Mother of the Church, we ask for Your help and prayers, too.
Wrap the Church in Your care,
and help us all stay strong in our faith as we trust in God’s plan for the future.
We pray for the next Pope,
that he will lead with humility and courage,
and inspire us to live more fully as followers of Jesus.
Amen.
Mission Action Day Donations
It’s not too late to make a donation to help us reach our $100k fundraising target!
You can donate online via the MyCause link sent to eachstudent, or you can use this link.
Every dollar contributes to life-changing projects for people in developing communities.
Ria Greene
Deputy Principal - Faith and Mission