Papa Francisco

Pope Francis who died on Easter Monday

The Revd Josh Harris, Priest-in-Charge at St Katharine Cree, writes...

At an Anglican church you don’t normally expect to receive letters in the post from the Vatican, but last February here at St Katharine Cree we received a personal handwritten note from Pope Francis.

A handwritten letter from Pope Francis to the congregation of St Katharine Cree

Papa Francisco, as our Latin American community members know him, had heard about the establishment of our new church community and our vision to be a church for all workers in the heart of the City of London. He wrote directly and personally to encourage us, to remind our congregation that “I am with you from here”, sharing in solidarity our community’s hardships and struggles, and asking for our prayers for him as he offered his help to us.

This moment marked a fresh turning point for us, from an initial pilot project to developing a real congregation and community, to become a place and a people amongst whom all workers are welcome and helped, and all might find hope and joy in a community shaped by the Good News of Jesus.

Papa Francisco’s letter helped us enter a deeper focus on prayer and shared life together at St Katharine Cree especially among our Spanish-speaking congregation. We began to grow significantly, and our community drew together more closely and decisively in a new chapter of our development. His message gave us confidence to walk the path we felt God had set us, and to work with courage and conviction for the renewal of St Katharine Cree and the whole City of London. We will continue to do so.

We did not make a big fuss when we received his letter. We shared it with our community, and treasured it and the opportunity for correspondence which followed. So much of Papa Francisco’s ministry was personal (if not private) and attentive to the people and places he came to know and hear about - rather than concerned only with grand ideals and abstract ideas. He never forgot about the ordinary women and men who fill this world and need to hear about hope.

It is that hope we now hold onto. We will continue to remember this week some of his last words to the world on Easter Sunday:

Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day.

Sisters and brothers, especially those of you experiencing pain and sorrow, your silent cry has been heard and your tears have been counted; not one of them has been lost! In the passion and death of Jesus, God has taken upon himself all the evil in this world and in his infinite mercy has defeated it. He has uprooted the diabolical pride that poisons the human heart and wreaks violence and corruption on every side. The Lamb of God is victorious! That is why, today, we can joyfully cry out: “Christ, my hope, has risen!”

May that joyful cry of hope echo through the church and world today!

We have prayed for Pope Francis throughout the last year. We pray now that he may rest in peace and rise in glory. May his witness strengthen and encourage us all.

Fr Josh

P.S. If you would like to watch Pope Francis's funeral with others, we will be showing it live in the church from 8:45am on Saturday 26th April with a time afterwards for personal reflection and prayer.

Listen to my song: Workshop

Mission and Outreach Coordinator, Kitty Montero Junca, writes...

On Saturday 15th March the Latin American community at SKC came together for a singing workshop with Maria (professionally known as MONTAÑERA), an artist and researcher who explores how song can bring people together, promote healing, and build peace. Drawing from her research with war survivors in Tumaco, Colombia, she led our community through a powerful musical practice that created a safe space for intimate conversations about migration, grief, loneliness, and resilience.

The words "escucha mi canto que, viene del agua y mar, mojando la tierra pa que crezca nueva vida,” which translates to "listen to my song, it comes from the water and sea, moistening the earth, so that new life may grow" were sung repeatedly sparking memories and reflections on the landscapes they left behind. The community reflected on how suffering is never fully healed but always finds a way to return and how healing is cyclical—pain resurfaces in different ways, just like sound echoes and returns. Singing together became a way to move through it, not alone, but as a collective, creating waves of resilience.

The post-discussion resonated with SKC’s community-inspired, creation-based Lent devotional, which celebrates the beauty of the homelands that community members have come from. Reflections centred on the profound grief of leaving—how migration, despite a deep love for their own countries, often feels like the only option. It's an act of both hope and pain, as they trade the familiarity and richness of their homeland for the uncertain promise of new opportunities in cities like London. And yet, despite the pain, there was also pride. They spoke about how Latin Americans, even when they have little, are known for their joy and hope. The workshop became a reminder of this spirit, of the unbreakable connection they have to their roots, their histories, and most importantly, to each other.

Call to Prayer and Action for Living Wage Week

We are looking back with joy on a fantastic night of celebration for Living Wage Week with London Citizens here at the Guild Church for Workers at St Katharine Cree. We are grateful for many friends coming together to call for dignified work for all - and for everyone who contributed to this wonderful annual event.

(thanks to Michaela Ajani and Citizens UK for photographs)

We are motivated at St Katharine Cree by our Christian faith to work with others for justice and dignity for all who work in and around the City of London. We are proud to celebrate the amazing role played by churches in the broad alliance of civic institutions who have won a real living wage for thousands of people across London over the past two decades.

This year the service was co-led by Rev Josh Harris who leads St Katharine Cree and Wilson Ayala who is a member of the community here and also the elected chair of the Cleaner and Facilities Worker branch of the IWGB trade union. Our service was bilingual in Spanish and English, which reflects both the congregation here and the Latin American demographic of many cleaners in London.

Before the service we held a workshop - again in English and Spanish - with Theos, the religion and society think tank, to explore the spiritual roots of a campaign for economic justice and we are grateful to Hannah and Paul, along with Frankie from London Citizens and Kitty from SKC for this well-attended workshop.

We were delighted for so many friends and colleagues to share in leading our time together: including Nathan and the Gospel Choir of St Antony of Padua Forest Gate, Rev James and Salomey from St Mary's Islington, Flint from Paniym City Church, organisers and leaders from London Citizens, members of our own community, IWGB, and many people visiting from churches and communities across London.

We are already excited for next year! Get in touch if you'd like to be involved.