Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe respond to the death of Pope Francis

Two of England’s four cardinals appeared together earlier today to talk movingly about the death of Pope Francis and the extraordinary legacy he has left for the Church and the world. Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe OP, former Master of the Dominicans, who are both aged 79 and therefore being under 80 entitled to vote in the coming conclave, spoke of how his life and death illustrated the victory of love over hatred. Commenting on the timing of Pope Francis’ death, the day after Easter Sunday, Cardinal Nichols said: “I could only see in this the providence of God. The risen Lord visited his disciples after his Resurrection. And it just strikes me, he’s done the same here. He’s come to Pope Francis and said, ‘Right, home’. And it fits. The Paschal candle, the symbol of the risen Christ, is burning brightly today. It’s almost as if the Lord wants to say to us, yes that’s true. There is a victory over death. And while our hearts are full of that, he takes this action of calling home a very precious servant.” Cardinal Radcliffe said: “I think many people when they face death have their moment of accepting that now is the time.... We celebrate the victory of life over death, of love over hatred, so what better moment to be taken up into the love of God.” Video recorded by Ruth Gledhill, assistant editor of The Tablet. Read her report of the press conference by the two cardinals here: https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/card...