The death of Australian Cardinal George Pell was a shock because just five days earlier he had concelebrated the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI and “seemed in good health,” said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.

Pope Francis praised the late Australian Cardinal George Pell as a faithful servant of God and of the Catholic Church, who steadfastly followed the Lord even “in the hour of trial” when he was jailed for sexual abuse before his conviction was overturned by Australia’s highest court.

Sister Mary Barbara Campbell, a member of Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died Dec. 29 in Scranton, Pa. Sister Mary Barbara, formerly known as Sister Mary Josella, was 95.

An 11 a.m. funeral Mass for Christian Brother William Fealy will be offered Jan. 2 at McManus Theatre at Calvert Hall College High School in Towson. Brother William died at University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson Dec. 26. He was 80.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI, who had an impressive record as a teacher and defender of the basics of Catholic faith, is likely to go down in history books as the first pope in almost 600 years to resign.

Just a few hours after retired Pope Benedict XVI died in his Vatican residence Dec. 31, Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, provided a few early details of what to expect in the coming days.

A funeral Mass for Daughter of Charity Sister Natalie (Margaret Isabelle) McCubbin was offered Dec. 7 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg.

A funeral Mass for Franciscan Sister Agnes Bonner (formerly Sister Catherine Michael) will be offered at 11 a.m. Dec. 21 at Assisi House in Aston, Pa.

A funeral Mass for Daughter of Charity Sister Alice Marie (Frances Elizabeth) Smith was offered. Nov. 26 at the Basilica of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg.

A funeral Mass for Daughter of Charity Sister Margaret John Kelly was offered Dec. 3 at the Basilica of the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg.