Vatican City [Israel], December 31 (ANI): Former Pope Benedict passed away at his Vatican residence on Saturday aged 95. “With sorrow, I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican. Further information will be provided as soon as possible,” Vatican News tweeted.

Pope Benedict passed away two days after Pontiff Francis asked to pray for the “very sick” former Pope, CNN said in a report. “I want to ask you all for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict who sustains the Church in his silence. He is very sick,” Pope Francis said during his general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday.

“We ask the Lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church to the very end,” added Pope Francis. In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world by making the almost unprecedented decision to stand down from his position, citing “advanced age.”

Benedict’s announcement marked the first time a Pope had stepped down in nearly 600 years, reported CNN. The last Pope to resign before his death was Gregory XII, who in 1415 quit ending a civil war within the Catholic Church in which more than one man claimed to be Pope. (ANI)

Demise of Pope Benedict XVI: Kerala Catholic Church to observe mourning, special altar, informs KCBC

Kochi (Kerala) [India], December 31 (ANI): The Kerala Catholic Church will observe mourning from January 1, 2023, post the demise of former Pope Benedict, as per an official press release of Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC). The Kerala Catholic Church will observe mourning including the 5th day when his funeral service will be held.

According to the official press release, KCBC President Cardinal Baselious Cleemis and Syro-Malabar Church Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alencherry representing the Kerala Church will participate in the funeral service of Pope Benedict.

“Those concerned should take care to avoid the avoidable and to do others casually during the festive events of these days. All ostentation should be avoided. The KCBC officials informed the concerned that a special altar should be held for Pope Benedict in all the churches on a convenient day and a commemorative meeting in Catholic institutions on the 5th would be appropriate,” it read.

Pope Benedict was once a great theologian and preacher who looked up to the whole world. Tributes are paid to his bright memory. “While a priest he was one of the principal theologians of the Second Vatican Council. He was keenly interested in writing and reading and used his evening leisure time to do so. His sermons inspired the believers to have a warm friendship with Jesus. He took a tough stand against the perpetrators of allegations of child sexual abuse and was committed to reforming the moral life of the Church,” read an official press release.

It said that he adopted the Church’s traditional positions on birth control and gay sex. Pope Benedict, who loved Christian theology and its uniqueness with respect, had complete respect and reverence for non-religious people and brother Christian churches.

“He had a profound erudition of the leadership ministry of the Successor of Pathrose and showed a high regard for the Eastern Churches. His was an open approach to recognizing and respecting the independence and autonomy of the Eastern Churches,” it read. The official statement stated that the elected Pope at the age of 78, was the first older person to hold the position since Pope Clement XII. Benedict XVI is the 30th Pope elected from Germany.

US President mourns Pope Benedict XVI’s death, praises his ‘devotion to Church’

Washington [US], January 1 (ANI): United States President Joe Biden mourned the passing of former Pope Benedict XVI and praised his “devotion to the Church”.
“Jill and I join Catholics and others around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He’ll be remembered as a renowned theologian, with a lifetime of devotion to the Church, guided by his principles and faith. May he continue to be an inspiration to all,” Biden tweeted.

Former Pope Benedict passed away at his Vatican residence on Saturday aged 95.
“With sorrow, I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican. Further information will be provided as soon as possible,” Vatican News tweeted.

World leaders mourned the passing of former Pope Benedict, praising his “devotion to the Church”.

United Kingdom’s King Charles III recalled his meeting with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and said he fondly remembers meeting with the former pontiff during a visit to the Vatican in 2009, Al Jazeera reported.

“I also recall his constant efforts to promote peace and goodwill to all people, and to strengthen the relationship between the global Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church,” Charles said in a message to Pope Francis on Saturday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also paid tribute to former Pope Benedict. “As a “German” #Papst was #BenediktXVI . for many not only in this country a special church leader. The world loses a formative figure of the Catholic Church, a controversial personality and a clever theologian. My thoughts are with Pope Francis,” he tweeted.

Polish President Andrzej Duda said that Benedict’s teaching was a “signpost among the many winding and deceptive paths of the contemporary world”. Taking to Twitter, Duda said, “Pope Benedict XVI has gone to Father’s House. Today the world has lost one of the greatest theologians of the 20th and 21st centuries, a close collaborator of St. John Paul II. His life, works and pastoral ministry are a signpost among many winding and deceptive roads of the present day. RIP,” according to the rough translation by Google. (ANI)