Naga Cathedral holds requiem mass for Benedict XVI

By Myrna S. Bermudo

A requiem mass for Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus was held on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral.  Triduum Masses were also held at the  Cathedral from January 2 to 4, 2023.  

The Archdiocese of Caceres, through its social media account, invited the faithful to “pray for the eternal repose of the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who returned to the house of God the Father on Saturday, 31 December 2022.”

The requiem mass was presided by Caceres Archbishop, Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, DD. The faithful  were invited to join in thanking the Lord for Benedict XVI’s life and ministry through the Holy Eucharist. 

At the age of 78, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, became Pope Benedict XVI. He served as the leader of the Catholic Church and the sovereign head of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation, due to ill health, on 28 February 2013. He succeeded (St.) Pope John Paul II and was succeeded by the current Pope Francis.

CBCP STATEMENT

Pope Benedict XVI passed on quietly on this last day of the year Dec 31, 2022, at 9:34 in the morning (Vatican time). I wish to thank all of you who accompanied him in prayer and offered special Mass intentions for his peaceful passage into eternal life. We will fondly remember him, especially those among us bishops, who had been appointed by him to the episcopal ministry. (It was Pope Benedict XVI who appointed me bishop in July 2006.)

If Pope Francis is known as the Pope of Mercy and Joy, Pope Benedict will be remembered as the Pope of Charity. He began his episcopacy with a profoundly theological encyclical entitled DEUS CARITAS EST (God is Love). Among the many charisms God had bestowed on him, he will be specially remembered as a great theologian, catechist, and musician. He spent the last years of his life as an emeritus pope in solitude and contemplation, supporting the universal Church and Pope Francis spiritually with his prayers. Let us commend him to the Lord and pray for his eternal repose.

Eternal rest grant unto Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him.

Requiescat in pace. Amen.

+Pablo Virgilio S. David

Bishop of Kalookan

President of CBCP

31 December 2022