The Diocese of Arundel & Brighton is deeply saddened by the death of His Holiness Pope Francis.
Statement on the death of His Holiness, Pope Francis (1936-2025)
The Diocese of Arundel & Brighton is deeply saddened by the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. We give thanks for the Holy Father’s ministry and witness and entrust his faithful soul to the Father of all mercies.
Elected to the papacy in March 2013, Pope Francis was an unwavering advocate of the poor and marginalised.
A powerful proponent for the value and sanctity of every human life, the Pope was vocal in his denouncement of human trafficking, which he referred to as a “global scourge”. He designated February 8 as the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking and worked steadfastly to raise awareness of the illegal practice, promoting the work and mission of Papal anti-trafficking charity, The Santa Marta Group, which operates internationally to end the criminal trade.
In 2021, Pope Francis launched arguably one of the most prominent initiatives of his 12-year papacy, the Synod on Synodality; a four-year undertaking centred on the themes of Communion, Participation and Mission. More than 1,000 people from our Diocese contributed to the “local phase” of the Synod, with the fruits of the Synodal Path offering an opportunity for Catholics across the world to journey together to create a Church that “plants dreams, draw forth prophecies and visions, [and] allows hope to flourish.”[1] More recently, the Holy Father announced that 2025 was to be a Year of Jubilee with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”, with three churches in our diocese designated as special places of pilgrimage where Holy Year Indulgences can be gained.
Despite his advancing years and the frailties of age, Pope Francis travelled widely, meeting world leaders, lay people, religious, and members of clergy living in countries far beyond Europe and the Western World. Speaking after a visit to Singapore in September 2024, the Pope highlighted the particular joy he experienced meeting children “who follow the Gospel and become salt and light [and]witnesses of hope” [2], with his love of young people also in evidence during the World Youth Days he attended.
Operating within an increasingly violent and polarised global landscape, Pope Francis worked tirelessly and vocally in the pursuit of peace, dispatching Vatican envoys across the world to deliver aid and spiritual support to people and communities in need, while urging governments and world leaders to bring an end to conflict and violence, particularly in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan.
Equally galvanising was the Pope’s stance on Care for our Common Home, and his concern for environmental stewardship. In 2015 he published Laudato Si’ – the first of two encyclical letters on the climate crisis – calling on people of all ages and backgrounds to redouble local, national, and international efforts to safeguard and protect the planet. Writing Laudate Deum in 2023 he reiterated the need for people across the world to act, highlighting that “there are no cultural changes without personal changes.” [3] Locally, a number of diocesan parish communities and schools answered the Pope’s call by adopting CAFOD’s LiveSimply programme, caring for God’s creation, and standing in solidarity with our global family. Speaking earlier today Bishop Richard Moth said:
“As we mourn the death of Pope Francis, we can also be deeply grateful for his life of service to the Universal Church. Bringing his experience of the Church in South America, informed and enlightened by his life as a member of the Society of Jesus, he called us all to simplicity of life, a renewed openness to the gift of mercy, a deeper understanding of the dignity of the human person and a respect and care for creation. The work of the Synod, that has marked the more recent years of his papacy, is sure to inform to the life and mission of the Church in the proclamation of the Gospel and his faithful dedication, even as he lived with failing health, is an example to us all. May he rest in peace.”
Bishop Richard will offer Mass for the repose of the Pope’s soul in his private chapel today, and at Arundel Cathedral tomorrow, 22 April, at 10am, and will celebrate a daily Mass for the Pope, at various locations, over the next eight days. The Dean of Arundel Cathedral, Fr Stephen Dingley, will also celebrate Mass for the Pope today, with a further eight Masses at Arundel Cathedral or Our Lady of England Catholic Church, Storrington.
A Book of Condolence will be available at Arundel Cathedral, with additional books available at a number of diocesan churches. Condolences can also be sent via email to; E: franciscus.angb@gmail.com.
[1] www.synod.va [2] www.vaticannews.va [3] www.vatican.va
The Diocesan Statement and Devotional Prayers can be viewed on the Arundel and Brighton Diocesan website: https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/news/pope-francis-rip
Jubilee 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope
The Holy Father has decided that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee, something which happens every 25 years. The theme is “Pilgrims of Hope”. Pope Francis has invited Catholics to renew our hope and discover a vision that can “restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone”. We are also invited to rediscover a spirituality of God’s creation in which we understand ourselves as “pilgrims on the earth” rather than masters of the world.
The Jubilee will provide an important opportunity for people across our global family of faith to enrich their relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation offering hope and healing to a world suffering the effects of war, poverty and deprivation, and the climate crisis.
Writing about the Jubilee, Pope Francis said: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given to us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision… restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth.”
Arundel Cathedral has been designated as a special place of pilgrimage, where Holy Year Indulgences can be gained. Please contact Arundel Cathedral Office for more details on arranging a visit if a group or parish want to organise a particular event.
Confessions
Saturday – 10.30 to 11.00 am
Opening Times for Private Prayer and Visits
Sunday – 12.30 pm to 4.00 pm
Monday to Saturday – 10.30 am to 4.00 pm
Welcome to the website for Arundel Cathedral – the Cathedral Church for the Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton!
Built astride a hill the Cathedral sits majestically, overlooking the ancient town of Arundel and stands out as an inspiring landmark in West Sussex. Henry, 15th Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal, was responsible for the commissioning of the present building in December 1868. The architect was Joseph Hansom, known principally for invention of the Hansom Cab, who had designed a variety of Catholic churches, convents and other buildings.
Construction began in late 1869 in French Gothic style and was opened on 1 July 1873. Originally the church was dedicated to the sixteenth century Italian priest, St. Philip Neri (1515-1595). St. Philip’s was seen to be a parish church for the Catholic community of Arundel and the surrounding villages in the Diocese of Southwark. With Duke Henry’s devotion to St. Philip Neri, an altar was built with stained glass windows above showing scenes from his life as well as a statue.
With the new Diocese of Arundel and Brighton created in 1965 the church became a Cathedral, with the dedication changing to ‘Our Lady and St. Philip Neri.’ Subsequently in 1971, the remains of the martyred 13th Earl of Arundel, St. Philip Howard (1557-1595), were brought from the Fitzalan Chapel in the grounds of Arundel Castle and enshrined in the Cathedral.
The Cathedral’s dedication finally changed in 1973 to ‘Our Lady and St. Philip Howard’. This followed the canonisation of Philip Howard together with 39 English and Welsh martyrs of the Reformation on 25 October 1970.
So if you are in West Sussex, put Arundel Cathedral on your ‘must see’ list!
Once a year there is Corpus Christi – the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ that takes place 60 days after Easter. A world famous Carpet of Flowers is laid for visitors to see for a few days prior to the Mass and a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to Arundel Castle.
The Cathedral also supports the annual Arundel Festival by being a venue for the highly popular Arts Trail around the historic town.
All year round there are concerts and recitals being performed in the Cathedral.
We hope you’ll enjoy browsing through the website. Discover more about the clergy, the parish community, the Cathedral Centre, Gift Shop and all the important times of Masses and Confession alongside our latest weekly newsletter and parish magazine. There are also some inspiring videos taken showing Arundel Cathedral at night time and the beauty of the Cathedral’s interior!
Visiting hours are: Monday – Saturday 9.00am – 4.00pm (please avoid Mass times)
Sunday 12.30pm – 4pm.
Weekday Mass is celebrated at 10am Monday, Friday and Saturday (times do vary, please check the weekly newsletter or the calendar below).
You can contact the Cathedral Office: Monday – Friday 9am – 3pm (01903) 882297 or arundel@abdiocese.org.uk .
All Masses, including Requiem Masses are available via the Cathedral live stream on www.arundelcathedral.uk
These Masses are also available via the live stream directly from Church Services TV (https://www.churchservices.tv/arundel)
PASTORAL PLAN FOR THE DIOCESE
‘The Word Who is Life: The Call to Mission’.
Available on the diocesan website:
www.abdiocese.org.uk/diocese/pastoral-plan
The Arundel and Brighton Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity No. 252878
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