April 21, 2025
Bishop DeGrood on the passing of Pope Francis
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today, we mourn the passing of our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, yet our hearts are lifted by the radiant hope of Christ’s resurrection, through which God’s boundless love triumphs over death.
For the past 12 years of his pontificate, Pope Francis has been a model of humility, love of the poor and a Church who cares about those on the peripheries. His life, rooted in the heart of Jesus, calls us to deeper conversion, that we, too, may give witness to the love of the crucified and risen Lord.
Please join me in praying for the repose of his soul and the consolation of the faithful during this time. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
In God’s love,
Bishop Donald E. DeGrood
Bishop of the Diocese of Sioux Falls