Pope Francis described his overdue predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, as “noble” and “kind” on Saturday night time, talking at Vespers Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City.
Francis praised the Pope Emeritus, who died on the age of 95, for his paintings and his religion.
“With emotion, we remember a person so noble, so kind. And we feel in our hearts so much gratitude: gratitude to God for having given him to the Church and to the world, gratitude to him, for all the good he has done and above all for his testimony of faith and prayer, especially in these last years of his retired life,” Pope Francis stated.
Benedict XVI led the Catholic church for nearly 8 years, earlier than changing into the primary pontiff in 600 years to surrender from the function in 2013.
Throughout the day, folks reacted with unhappiness to the scoop of the passing of the Pope Emeritus.
“I was approaching the square to pay my last respects, even though I am not a great believer. But he was a great philosopher and a great pope,” stated one lady.
Remembrance products and services have been held in Benedict’s local Germany. Church bells sounded and flags have been raised – together with in his house the city of Märktl, to the southeast of the rustic — which Benedict had referred to as his ‘non secular place of birth.’
