• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory of Washington, center, arrives with other cardinals for the funeral Mass of Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Jan. 5, 2023. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Nunciature in D.C. offers condolence book for people’s remembrances of pope

January 5, 2023
By Catherine Buckler
OSV News
Filed Under: Feature, News, Pope Benedict XVI, World News

WASHINGTON (OSV News) — In the wake of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s death, the Vatican’s apostolic nunciature in Washington offered the public the opportunity to sign a book of condolences with memories, comments and prayers for the former pope Jan. 3 and 4. 

Pope Benedict, who headed the Catholic Church from 2005 until he retired in 2013, died Dec. 31 at age 95.

 Susana Arissl Ramos-Izquierdo lives near the apostolic nunciature. She decided to visit and write her condolences after hearing about the opportunity at morning Mass at St. Thomas Apostle Church in Washington.

 Describing her feelings about the late pope, Ramos-Izquierdo said, “I feel lucky to have grown up in the era of Pope John Paul II. And then Pope Benedict just came and he had huge shoes to fill, lasted a short time … but my mother and many other people I know always quoted him, had great things to say about him.”

Pope Francis presides over the funeral Mass of Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Jan. 5, 2023. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

 Ramos-Izquierdo shared the sentiment of her message in the book of condolences. “I want to pray for his soul and also ask him to pray for us,” she said.

 Mariana Rosales is a minister counselor for public affairs at the Embassy of Costa Rica, whose state religion is Catholicism.

 “I think that he had not an easy task, coming after Pope John Paul II. I think that he was a very wise man, like knowing the right time when you have to step down to allow a fresh breath of air, that was incredibly brave on his part,” Rosales said. “He definitely had a very strong and firm hand to try to continue with the legacy of a very strong Catholic Church.”

 Rosales described her note in the book of condolences.

“I wanted to express how much … as Catholics, we understand that he is just returning to the house of the Father and how much we are sure, certain, that his soul will be forever. So I think that’s a loss that every Catholic can feel, without a doubt,” Rosales told the Catholic Standard, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington.

Another embassy visitor included Ambassador Jasem Albudaiwi, Kuwait’s ambassador to the United States.

 “We in Kuwait have a great relationship with the Vatican, we had a great relationship between the emir and the former emirs with all the popes that took the leadership. We feel the loss of this great human being who served humanity and every aspect, we are aware of all his efforts to bring all sorts of religions together and closer to each other,” Albudaiwi said.

 Kuwait’s ambassador added, “We feel the loss for the Catholic people, we pray to God that he is merciful on him (the pope) … and we hope that he rests in peace.”  

 Antoine Rask works in development at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Rask said that Pope Benedict has been “one of the biggest influences” on his life and led to him studying theology at The Catholic University of America.

 Due to a passport issue, Rask was not able to attend the pope’s funeral in Rome as he had hoped. However, he still hoped to offer his respects locally.

 “Every since I was a little child, he was a hero of mine, and while maybe most 11- or 12-year-olds don’t really know what’s going on, I followed the Benedict papacy and the papacy of our Holy Father Pope Francis from then,” Rask said. “I’ve just read a lot of the works and teachings of Pope Benedict.”

 Claire Leopold is a student at Clemson University in South Carolina who, like Ramos-Izquierdo, lives in the area of the apostolic nunciature.

 “I didn’t know this was going on, we were just walking by and it seemed like a great way to honor Pope Benedict,” Leopold said. In her message, she wanted to thank the late pope.

“I just remember how much my parents loved him, that’s what I remember of him,” Leopold said.

Pope Benedict XVI’s funeral was celebrated Jan. 5 in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. At 12:10 p.m. Jan. 5, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the U.S., was scheduled to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Life of Pope Benedict XVI at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

Catherine Buckler is a reporter for Catholic Standard, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington.

Read More Pope Benedict XVI

Vatican to publish ‘private’ homilies of late Pope Benedict

Everyday collaborators of Pope Benedict XVI remember the late pontiff

‘I love you, Papa!’: Maryland Catholics recall encounters with Pope Benedict XVI

RADIO INTERVIEW: Remembering Pope Emeritus Benedict

In a turn of history, Poland is country that will miss German pope the most

Pope’s tribute to predecessor ‘refined and profound,’ says Benedict aide

Copyright © 2023 OSV News

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Catherine Buckler

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Pope Leo to return to practice of ‘imposing’ pallium on new archbishops

  • Prodigal son to priest

  • Archbishop Lori announces appointments, including pastor and associate pastor assignments

  • Pope’s brother says even as a baby, future pontiff had a spiritual ‘air’ about him

  • Diversity is cause for strength, not division, pope tells Rome clergy

| Latest Local News |

Knights of Columbus announces June 19 novena for intention of Pope Leo

For Deacon Shiadrik Mokum, the priesthood is all about community

Prodigal son to priest

Radio Interview: Books and Authors: Inspiring Trailblazers

Future priest from Congo has a heart of service

| Latest World News |

Former Catholic high school counselor sentenced for abusing teen student

Supreme Court upholds Tennessee’s gender transition ban for minors

Cuban bishops urge leaders to address nation’s economic crisis

National Eucharistic Revival

For 3-year National Eucharistic Revival, the end is the beginning

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Experts provide tools for ministries to support immigrants affected by incarceration

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Former Catholic high school counselor sentenced for abusing teen student
  • Supreme Court upholds Tennessee’s gender transition ban for minors
  • Cuban bishops urge leaders to address nation’s economic crisis
  • For 3-year National Eucharistic Revival, the end is the beginning
  • Experts provide tools for ministries to support immigrants affected by incarceration
  • British Parliament ‘effectively decriminalizes’ abortion up to birth
  • Expert: Religious show courage helping others, fear standing up for self
  • Knights of Columbus announces June 19 novena for intention of Pope Leo
  • Pope: Resist the ‘temptation’ of embracing weapons

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED