IN MEMORIAM: THE PASSING OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS AND THE ENDURING LEGACY OF HIS BLESSING, APRIL 26, 2025
IN MEMORIAM: THE PASSING OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS AND THE ENDURING LEGACY OF HIS BLESSING
APRIL 26, 2025
BENEDICTION LETTER FROM THE APOSTOLIC NUNCIATURE
"We extend our deepest condolences on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.
His historic blessing to the Allied Merchant Navy, offered ten years ago, stands as a sacred testament to the sacrifice, faith, and courage of those who served in silence and honour. His unwavering devotion to God and the Lord Jesus Christ continues to inspire all who strive to build peace in His name.
"As we mark this important milestone, we plan to solemnly commemorate the 10th anniversary of His Holiness' blessing in September 2025. In doing so, we reaffirm our sacred duty to honour the memory of those who gave their lives for freedom and to uphold the enduring values of sacrifice, remembrance, and hope."
– Stéphane Ouellette, President and CEO, MNCTP
OTTAWA, TODAY – Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and CEO, MNCTP, joined people of good will around the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, who entered into eternal rest on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
Pope Francis served with unwavering devotion to God and to the Lord Jesus Christ, guiding the Church with humility, steadfastness, and a profound call to peace through the Gospel.
On September 1, 2015, in a moment of historic and sacred significance, Pope Francis extended a special apostolic blessing to the Allied Merchant Navy, conveyed through Monseigneur Maurizio Bravi, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Canada, to Rev. Dr. Brian Graham, Chaplain of the Allied Merchant Navy. In this blessing, the Holy Father proclaimed:
"Approaching the day of the commemoration of the sacrifices of the Canadian Merchant Navy, in the name of the Holy Father, I wish to assure you and all the present members, of a special remembrance in his prayers for the souls of the men and women who lost their lives serving their countries in the Allied Merchant Navy during the Second World War.”
At that time, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Pope Francis also expressed his prayerful hope that the entire human family, learning from the tragedies of the past and confronting present conflicts, "may persevere in the search for the common good and in promotion of a culture of peace" (General Audience, May 6, 2015).
Now, approaching the 10th anniversary of this sacred blessing on September 1, 2025, the MNCTP is planning to observe this important milestone within an integrated thematic framework.
As we honour the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis and his extraordinary spiritual leadership, the MNCTP reaffirms its sacred commitment to ensuring that the sacrifices of our Allied Merchant Mariners are forever remembered — not merely as a chapter of history, but as a living testament to service, sacrifice, and the eternal promise of salvation.
May God grant Pope Francis eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
FATHER THOMAS CASSIDY, REPRESENTING THE APOSTOLIC NUNCIATURE IN CANADA,
ATTENDING THE MERCHANT NAVY VETERANS DAY COMMEMORATIONS
NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL (OTTAWA)
SEPTEMBER 2008
Associated Blessings and Messages of Tribute:
In honour of this solemn occasion and in continued remembrance of the sacrifices made by the Allied Merchant Navy, we are also pleased to share the following historic blessings and tributes from distinguished leaders from the faith community:
- A Blessing from The Most Reverand Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross, & Caithness: Primus to the Allied Merchant Navy, August 14, 2017
- A Blessing from The Right Reverand John D.E. Davis, Bishop of Swansea & Brecon, and Senior Bishop of the Church of Wales to the Allied Merchant Navy, August 3, 2017
- A Blessing from The Most Reverand Dr. Philip Freier Primate, Archbishop of Melbourne to the Allied Merchant Navy, July 17, 2017
- A Blessing from The Most Reverand and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury to the Allied Merchant Navy, July 17, 2017
Contact
Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP)
Stéphane Ouellette
President and CEO
E-mail: ouellettes@rogers.com
Website: www.alliedmerchantnavy.com
