The Archbishop of Valencia, Enrique Benaventhas highlighted that what best identifies the Pope emeritus Benedict XVI “It is his pontificate framed in two of his declarations: the one he made on the day of his election at the seat of Peterpresenting himself to the world as “a humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord”, and the day his resignation from the Pontifical See became effective, on the balcony of the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, where he introduced himself saying: “I am just a pilgrim who begins the last stage of his pilgrimage on earth”.
The Archbishop of Valencia has highlighted that “Benedict XVI has been a great Pope for his intellectual qualities, for his teaching, for his teachings, for his love for the Church, and a Pope who is simple and humble at the same time. And this is also the key to understanding his greatness.
A long stage of silence
Enrique Benavent has affirmed that “It has been a longer stage than many of us could imagine at that time. A stage of silence, of study, of prayer, of dedication also to the Church, lived in a different way. For him they were also years of certain suffering, which he lived as a dedication of his person and his life to the Church. And this is what makes a Pontiff great: living one’s own mission as the dedication of one’s own person at the service of the Church»..
The Archbishop of Valencia has addressed these words in a message to the diocese of Valencia, to communicate “with pain and with Christian hope the death of the emeritus Pope Benedict XVI”, adding that “he was aware that the Lord was already asking him at this moment this way of living in a Monastery, and offering his life and his person for the Church. I am convinced that the Lord will have made fruitful and will make fruitful his humility, his surrender, the testimony of a simple and humble life at the service of the Church ”.
He recalled that “he exercised and lived out his years of Petrine ministry, faithfully, with delicacy and respect, transmitted the message of the Gospel. He announced to us and taught us the reasons for Faith. He wanted to announce Jesus Christ to the whole world, and he wanted to propose to everyone the reasons why Christians are called to give reason for our hope in the midst of our world. Here in the Diocese of Valencia we also remember the visit to Valencia that he made to us at the World Meeting of Families”.
The Archbishop of Valencia will travel to Rome for the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
Decree of the Archbishop: official mourning until January 8
In the Archbishop’s Palace, the flags of the diocese and of the Holy See fly at half mast, and the decree for the entire diocese for the death of the Pope emeritus has been published, by which the Archbishop provides the following:
Official mourning is decreed in the Archdiocese of Valencia until January 8, 2023 inclusive. During this time, in all the Masses that are celebrated in the Archdiocese, there will be an express intention in the Prayer of the Faithful and the intercession provided for in the Eucharistic Prayer will be made.
The temples that have the title of “Basilica”, therefore linked in a special way to the Roman See, will apply Masses with the express and exclusive intention of the deceased Pontiff emeritus during the nine days following his death.
After the funeral and burial of the Roman Pontiff emeritus, a solemn Mass will be held in the SI Metropolitan Cathedral in his suffrage, on January 9, 2023 at 7:00 p.m., and to which priests, religious, as well as priests are invited to participate. as the faithful of the Archdiocese.
Likewise, after the funeral of the Roman Pontiff emeritus, and the Solemn Mass in his suffrage in the SI Cathedral, a funeral Mass will be celebrated in all parish churches, sanctuaries and religious communities.
Families, religious communities and Christian spirituality groups are invited to pray the holy rosary during these days, applying the grace of indulgence in favor of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who so highly esteemed and recommended this practice of Christian piety.
Throughout today, December 31, 2022, there will be a solemn death knell.