On the morning of Saturday, December 31, we learned Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had been called to eternal life. Together, we give thanks to God for the life and ministry of Pope Benedict XVI and pray for the repose of his soul.
Bishop David L. Ricken shared the following: “He spoke and wrote with great simplicity and depth, and much of his life’s effort was spent in helping people understand how much they are known and loved by God and how much Jesus needs to be the center of our lives. The breadth of his intellectual acumen, as well as his ability to be truly humble while leading and serving as a pastor and teacher of the faith, is something for which we can be most grateful. He led the Church with clarity and courage, often in the face of great criticism.”