The death of the Pope Emeritus has marked the last months of 2022. An already difficult year for the one who was the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church for almost eight years.
Religious and civil personalities from all over the world have shown their respect and admiration for Joseph Ratzinger and have highlighted his humanity and his theological legacy, especially focused on charity.
Msgr. Georg Bätzing. President of the German Bishops' Conference
The first communiqué of the president of the German bishops, Benedict XVI's homeland, states "as Church in Germany, we think with gratitude of Pope Benedict XVI: he was born in our country, here was his home, here he helped to shape the life of the Church as a professor of theology and bishop". As the Church in Germany, we think with gratitude of Pope Benedict XVI: he was born in our country, here was his home, here he helped to shape the life of the Church as a professor of theology and bishop". of Benedict XVI he highlights his "personality that gave hope and direction to the Church even in difficult times. Pope Benedict made the voice of the Gospel heard, opportunely or inopportunely". Bishop Bätzing highlighted the former Archbishop of Munich's "theological thinking, his capacity for political judgment and his personal interaction with many people distinguished Pope Benedict XVI. I think with great respect of his courageous decision to resign as Pope in 2013."
Juan José Omella. President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference
The president of the Spanish bishops, in a video released by the EEC before the death of the Pope Emeritus, thanked "his profound ministry as Pope, his theological writings and his deep love for the Church". Omella asked "that he pray to the Father so that we do not deviate from the path that leads to God made man". He also wanted to emphasize that "his closeness to the Church on pilgrimage in Spain will remain forever" and recalled the "three occasions on which he visited Spain as well as the proclamation of the doctorate of St. John of Avila".
World leaders
The main political leaders of Europe have joined the condolences for the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, recalling the historical importance of his figure and theological legacy.
From Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz described Benedict XVI as "a theologian and a special leader for the Church, capable of transcending borders, who placed his life at the service of the universal Church and who has spoken, and will continue to speak, to the hearts and minds of men with the spiritual, cultural and intellectual depth of his Magisterium.
The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, for her part, described the Pope Emeritus as "a great man of history whom history will not forget" while Emmanuel Macron highlighted the work of Benedict XVI "with soul and intelligence for a more fraternal world".
Also from Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, described Benedict XVI as one of the greatest theologians of our time and called on believers and non-believers alike to continue his "great legacy".
The President of the European Commission, the German Ursula Von der Leyen, focused her recollection on the "signal" that Benedict XVI sent with his resignation, which showed how the Pope Emeritus "saw himself first as a servant of God and of the Church".
The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, also joined in the condolences, recalling the "historic visit he made to the United Kingdom in 2010, both for Catholics and non-Catholics".
Ángel Fernández Artime. Rector Major of the Salesians
The Superior of the Salesian Family issued a communiqué in which he emphasized that "a great Pope, a great believer, a great theologian and thinker, a man capable of building bridges of communication with the most diverse philosophers, theologians and intellectuals, has gone to meet his Lord. A Pope respected and who will be even more valued in the coming years and decades; a man and a Pope who knew how to live in simplicity and silence. May the God of life keep him with him. As sons of Don Bosco, and as he taught all his Salesians, today we also say: Long live the Pope!
Pontifical Mission Societies
The Pontifical Mission Societies also wanted to express their sorrow for the death of the Pope Emeritus of whom they emphasize that in "his eight years of pontificate, the Holy Father Benedict XVI infected us with his love for God, not only through his magisterium and his brilliant exposition of doctrine, but, above all, through the witness of his life. As pastor of the universal Church, the Pope wished to spread the faith and love of God to the whole world. The Pontifical Mission Societies were a privileged instrument for this purpose, as he himself expressed in his Messages for World Mission Sunday, the Domund.
Spanish Caritas
The Spanish delegation of Caritas has expressed its sorrow at the news of the death of Benedict XVI, and wanted to highlight his "especially significant magisterium for Caritas Española through his encyclicals "Deus caritas est" and "Caritas in veritate".
They also note that "after a long life of admirable service to the Word and the Truth, Benedict XVI leaves us the legacy of one of the great Popes in the history of the Church as an apostle of charity and hope".
