Responding to the Dec. 31 death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Archbishop William E. Lori said he gives thanks for the “life, witness, and ministry of this ‘humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.'”
“Pope Benedict was a man of deep faith and keen intellect who placed his considerable gifts at the service of Christ and his bride the Church,” Archbishop Lori said in a Dec. 31 statement. “Early in his priesthood this took the form of scholarship and teaching. We are grateful for his contribution to the great work of the Second Vatican Council. He went on to serve as a bishop and later as Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. For eight years the Pope Emeritus served as Supreme Pontiff and since his humble decision to resign from the Petrine ministry, Pope Benedict’s service took the form of a life of prayer for the needs of the Church and especially for our current Holy Father, Pope Francis. Much more will be said about the Pope Emeritus’ life and legacy in the days to come but for now we remember all of the ways he has sought to build up the Body of Christ for which we are ever grateful.”
Archbishop Lori said the Archdiocese of Baltimore will remember Pope Emeritus Benedict’s life and commend his soul to the Lord during a special Jan. 4 Mass at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. All lay faithful, religious and clergy are welcome, and priests throughout the archdiocese are invited to concelebrate the liturgy.
The archbishop also asked all the faithful of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict by praying the rosary or offering an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be.
“May the Master of the Harvest reward this humble worker in his vineyard,” he said.
The Mass will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@cathedralofmary
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