Online Book of Condolence for Pope Francis

As the faithful around the world mourn the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception invites you to share your prayers, comments, and memories in our Online Book of Condolence. A Pope of the people, Pope Francis inspired millions with his humility, compassion, and tireless devotion. As the first Pontiff from the Americas, he brought fresh insight to the papacy, rooted in mercy, justice, and the embrace of the marginalized.

In tribute to his extraordinary life and ministry, Monsignor Walter Rossi, Rector of the Basilica, shared: “We give thanks to God for his 55 years as a priest, his 32 years as a bishop, and 12 years as Pope. A life of service to the Church and to God’s people, we remember him and strive to ‘go out to proclaim the merciful embrace of the Father’ as he urged in his 2015 homily at the Basilica. May he rest in peace and Our Lady usher him into the presence of her Son.”

Add Your Message

Please share your message below. All submissions will be respectfully reviewed before publishing and preserved as part of the National Shrine’s memorial tribute to Pope Francis.

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Displaying 141 - 160 of 1,329

I am deeply saddened for the passing of our Holy Father as I'm travelling to Rome for the Jubilee pilgrimage and I was not able to receive his final blessing. I thank him enough for being a true disciple of Christ not only through words but by his actions. I am forever grateful when he remembered to send me a note about my book "Euli, the Little boy who loves Christmas" and gave me so much inspiration that he even paid attention to the lowly like me, just like Jesus. I am rest assured that he's now home to our Eternal Father in heaven 🙏. Rest in peace ✌️🕊️ Pope Francis and watch over us up there in heaven. 🗽 Liberty:)

Liberty Moya Raba

Lawrence Township NJ

Message of condolences he was great church
Leader may he rest in peace

Shanon Paternoster

Honolulu

I am so proud to have lived though Pope Francis as our Catholic leader. True to his belief he was the Pope of all People. I looked at all the photos of him with other individuals from leaders to just the everyday individual. I will miss him and pray that the next Pope will be just as great and loving to all human beings.

Kathryn Bailey

WASHINGTON, DC

We love you!
We thank you!
We will miss you!
And we will pray for you!
Rest in Peace, Papa Franciscus.

Sharon Lo

Fort Washington, MD

Rest in peace beloved Pope Francis. Your love, dedication, leadership and service was like Christ walking with us at the present times. May you continue to pray for us for mercy, forgiveness and world’s peace.

Karl and Rhodelia Bejo

Germantown, MD USA

You have touched my heart and gave me strength when I needed it most. RIP

Shelly Will

GERMANTOWN, MD

Thank you Pope Francis for everything you did

John Nave

Rest in eternal peace to our holy Pope Feancis.. pray for us all. Amen.

Theresa Young

Kilkenny

Dearest Holy Father,
God bless you and keep you. Thank you for your endless love, patience, gentleness, inspiration and light; for being such a wonderful father for us and magnificent leader for our holy church. We will miss you always. I will work to honor you in my life. With love, respect, and gratitude.

Ellen Yui

Takoma Park, MD

With deepest sympathy on the passing of our much loved Pope Frances. Rest in perfect peace. You worked tirelessly 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🥰🥰🥰🥰

Carmel Seamus and family O Connell

BALLYJAMESDUFF

Thanks for serving as our Pope! Heaven knows it is not an easy job! I have read several of your writings. My favorite is your reply to letters from children from children around the world. Please pray for me from heaven!!
Lots of love!
Susan Mary Bernadette

Susan Mary Bernadette Koehne

Milwaukee

Thank you Pope Francis for accepting the call of God to serve. Your legacy will endure forever. We give glory to the Lord for your life. Rest in peace and pray for us until we reunite in heaven

Pizeani Kodom

High Point, NC

Rest In Paradise Pope!

Anna Coffman

Enterprise, AL

Thank you for your leadership of our Catholic Church, our world will miss your tireless dedication to the poor and neglected. Rest in peace dear Pope Francis, as you take your well deserved place in the House of our Lord and God.

Barbara Mattera

Marlboro, NJ

Dearest Pope Francis,
Thank you so much for everything you have done for all the people in the world, for all your love, sacrifices, prayer, faith and understanding. You have changed and touched lots of lives including mine.
You have made me realise that I have to keep my faith and hold on to God and Mother Mary inspite of all the tribulations I have been going through for quite sometime now. These trials are not even a quarter of the hardships you gone through especially what Jesus Christ have experienced. I should pray for courage and strength and keep on trusting the Lord cause I can only count on him and no one else..
You have fulfilled your mission with flying colours and it’s time for you to rest and go home to heaven and keep on watching us from above.
Rest in peace Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) 😇🙏

Mary Lasam

Dianella, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Pope Francis- you served the pray and pray for them now! Am deeply inspired by your spirit of helping the poor and needy and i want to follow your foot steps!
nk

Nyabonyi Kazungu

Washington DC

Thank you Pope Francis for leading by example!

Pope Francis Center, named after you, serves the most vulnerable in Detroit. We are blessed to volunteer in two locations - Day Center or the new Bridge Housing Campus with 40 units which opened last September.
From Detroit Catholic article: Detroiters vow to honor pope's memory by caring for those 'in the peripheries' 4/23/25:

Pope Francis’ care "in particular for those who live in the peripheries" set an example for many individuals and organizations who work for social good, and for some Detroiters, it changed the trajectory of their work to care for the most vulnerable forever.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
~Amen~

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.
Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei,
requiescant in pace.
~Amen~

Csilla Gutay

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Rest in peace Holy Father Pope Francis. Intercede for peace in the world and for the next successor of Peter. Thank you for showing that hope is still possible in this world.

Vital Nbessa

Washington,DC

You were a greeat Pope who loved nature and humanity! 'll always cherish your teachings
R.I.P Pope Francis

Odette Vianney

United Republic of Tanzania

My dearest and favorite Pope Francis, thank you for loving our Blessed Mother Mary with all your heart and soul. May she receive you in heaven and guide you to our Lord Jesus Christ. Someday you will indeed be a Saint for the immigrants. Please continue to champion for the poor, the vulnerable and the immigrants. May the Almighty God make you one of his good angels too. Please pray for us always.

Millicent Odero

Washington DC

Pope Francis rides the pope-mobile in front of the National Shrine

Light a Candle for the Repose of the Soul of Pope Francis

As we mourn the passing of our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, we invite you to honor his life, legacy and unwavering devotion to Christ by lighting a candle at Mary’s Shrine. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis led the faithful with a heart of compassion, welcoming the marginalized and underprivileged with open arms. Your candle, lit in prayerful remembrance, will burn alongside hundreds of others in chapels and oratories throughout the upper and lower Church of the National Shrine.

Light a Candle