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“The Friends of the Holy Father” meet Pope Leo in Rome.
'Monsignor Whitmore, Spiritual Advisor to the Friends of the Holy Father, is greeted by Pope Leo who was then introduced to FHF members John Sinfield, Irene Sinfield, Ann-Marie Rivers, Lynne Langan and Naomi Langan. At the conclusion of the General Audience on October 22, the Pope greeted and thanked the members of "The Friends of the Holy Father", an association founded in 1979 in response to the appeal of Saint John Paul II. In 1979, "The Friends of the Holy Father" association started in London with the mission of offering direct and concrete support to the Holy Father: a prompt response to the appeal of Pope John Paul II, who, immediately upon his election, had requested prayers, sacrifice, and help for his "heavy burden." The association, which carries on the legacy of a previous organization that was active until 1941, represents an act of love and solidarity aimed at assisting the mission of the Successor of Peter. The text and image have been extracted from and Copyright the Vatican News - read here. |
The Pope greeted and thanked the members of the Friends of the Holy Father
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Prospect and Hope for the Papacy of Leo XIV - A speech by His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia
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I was privileged to be invited to be part of a panel of speakers at a conference on ‘Prospects and Hope for the Papacy of Leo XIV’ held on Friday 20 June 2025 at St Etheldreda’s Church in Ely Place. It was ably organised by Anthony Weaver of Retreats Beyond Dover. There were around 50 people present including many Priests and Religious Sisters and representatives from Christian organisations such as Aid to the Church in Need. Members of the Ukrainian Eparchy of the Holy Family Church in Duke street sang some Ukrainian hymns for us. The Private Secretary to the Papal Nuncio, Fr Andrew Coy brought the proceedings to a rousing end when played the piano while we all sang lustily ‘Full in the Panting Heart of Rome’.
The conference was very interesting and gave special insights from the various contributors on how they saw the future of the Pope Leo XIV papacy. The text of the talk given by His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia is attached and well worth reading. Mary Maxwell, Secretary Read the full text of the speech (PDF 261kb)
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Members of the Ukrainian choir singing at the Conference
The panel and some guests at the Conference
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Pope Leo XIV
The Friends of the Holy Father welcome the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the 267th Pope, to be known as Pope Leo XIV. We offer him our prayers and support as he takes up his new role in these challenging times. We pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to watch over him and inspire his work.
Pope Leo’s papal name suggests that he will be an advocate of Catholic Social Teaching as was his great predecessor, Pope Leo X111, shown by his encyclical ‘Rerum Novarum’.
Pope Leo’s first words were ‘Peace be with all of you’.
He then went on to say, “ We have to look together how to be a missionary Church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.”
For a full biography of our new Pope see the Catholic Bishops’ website http://www.cbcew.org.uk/pope-leo-xiv-biography/
Pope Leo’s papal name suggests that he will be an advocate of Catholic Social Teaching as was his great predecessor, Pope Leo X111, shown by his encyclical ‘Rerum Novarum’.
Pope Leo’s first words were ‘Peace be with all of you’.
He then went on to say, “ We have to look together how to be a missionary Church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.”
For a full biography of our new Pope see the Catholic Bishops’ website http://www.cbcew.org.uk/pope-leo-xiv-biography/
Pope Francis - Jorge Mario Bergoglio - 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025
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The Friends of the Holy Father are deeply saddened by the death of our beloved Pope Francis.
Although his death was not unexpected, his indomitable spirit seemed to triumph over his failing health and it appeared that he might continue to lead us for even longer. However, our Almighty Father had other plans for him. Pope Francis will be remembered for his humility and the emphasis on service throughout his pontificate. We were all very much blessed to have such a worthy and loving Shepherd caring for us. His teachings were an inspiration and provided an example for us all to try to do our best to imitate and live up to. He gave us the courage to live up to our convictions. His was a loving presence and people’s expressions lightened and became suffused with joy when he appeared. |
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This was obvious at his last public appearance on Easter Sunday. The world now seems so much emptier without him.
Rest in peace beloved Holy Father knowing that your work on earth is done and that you may now reap the reward for your fidelity to the Petrine ministry.
Rest in peace beloved Holy Father knowing that your work on earth is done and that you may now reap the reward for your fidelity to the Petrine ministry.
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Holy Year Pilgrimage to Rome with St James’s Church
Ecclesiastical Adviser to the Friends, Mgr Philip Whitmore, who is rector of St James’s Church, London, (known as Spanish Place), has kindly extended an invitation to members of the Friends of the Holy Father to join his parish in their pilgrimage to Rome from 20-25 October to celebrate the Jubilee Year. Further information and full itinerary available in the pilgrimages section. |
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Friends Contribute to Jubilee Year 2025
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The Jubilee Year, marked by the Holy Father’s words ‘May Hope Fill Our Days’ began with the opening of the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve, 2024.
In our Catholic tradition, the Holy Door represents the passage to salvation, the path to a new and eternal life, which was opened to humanity by Jesus, as Pope Francis explained in Spes Non Confundit, (Hope Does Not Disappoint), the Papal Bull, which officially proclaimed the Holy Year of 2025. |
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This symbolic start to the Jubilee Year was followed by four more openings of Holy Doors: one in Rebibbia Prison, Rome on 26 December 2024; St John Lateran, (the Cathedral of Rome) on 29 December; the Basilica of St Mary Major on 1January 2025, and finally the Holy Door of the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls on 5 January 2025.
We are delighted to announce that The Friends of the Holy Father are privileged to have been involved in the Jubilee year. We responded to an appeal from the Dicastery for Communications in Rome for assistance to Vatican media by funding an outdoor studio in St Peters Square, which will enable them to provide worldwide coverage of all the events taking place during the Jubilee Year.
The Jubilee Year will end in Rome on the feast of the Epiphany, 6 January 2026.
We are delighted to announce that The Friends of the Holy Father are privileged to have been involved in the Jubilee year. We responded to an appeal from the Dicastery for Communications in Rome for assistance to Vatican media by funding an outdoor studio in St Peters Square, which will enable them to provide worldwide coverage of all the events taking place during the Jubilee Year.
The Jubilee Year will end in Rome on the feast of the Epiphany, 6 January 2026.
Newsletters
Papal Nuncio - Pope Francis appointed Spanish Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain in April 2023. He succeeded Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti who was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches in November 2022 and who was recently made a Cardinal. Read our latest Newsletter.
You can read our previous communications on our newsletters page.
Latest constitution
Please read our lastest constitution (PDF 189kb).
Papal Nuncio - Pope Francis appointed Spanish Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain in April 2023. He succeeded Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti who was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches in November 2022 and who was recently made a Cardinal. Read our latest Newsletter.
You can read our previous communications on our newsletters page.
Latest constitution
Please read our lastest constitution (PDF 189kb).
