Canadian Cardinal mourns Pope Benedict XVI, says writings will guide for centuries | 24CA News

MONTREAL — Pope emeritus Benedict XVI is being remembered in Canada for his mind and theological affect on the Catholic Church he led for almost 9 years.

Cardinal Thomas Collins praised the 95-year-old former pontiff, who died Saturday at his house within the Vatican, for his astounding mind.

“His writings will help guide disciples of Jesus in the centuries that lie before us,” Collins — who additionally serves as Archbishop of Toronto — mentioned in an announcement. “As pope, he led the universal church with wisdom and holiness, providing a clear and loving message of how our faith can inspire us and guide us through the storms of life’s journey.”

At a Saturday afternoon mass, Collins informed the devoted that Benedict’s theological work confirmed that he was “in love with the Lord”

“There was a fire and a beauty and a glory in his teaching, this man of the word of god could touch the hearts of those who heard him and those who read his writings,” he mentioned.

Bishop of Calgary William McGrattan mentioned Benedict’s writing drew on a deep data of scripture and the work of different theologians, however remained accessible to many Catholics.

“I think Pope Benedict will be known for his teaching, for the contribution that he made to the church’s reflection on scripture and theology,” he mentioned in an interview. “He was very simple, very direct, and could explain things that are very profound in very simple, intelligible ways.”

McGrattan, who turned a bishop whereas Benedict was pope and met the late pontiff on a number of events, mentioned he will probably be holding Benedict in prayer.

The German mental, theologian and prolific author was referred to as a reluctant pope who turned the primary in 600 years to resign.

His dramatic exit in 2013 paved the way in which for the election of Pope Francis, who will preside over Benedict’s funeral Thursday, marking an unprecedented second within the historical past of the papacy with a reigning pope eulogizing over a retired one. Collins mentioned he plans to attend the service.

While Francis has taken totally different positions than his predecessor on quite a lot of points, the reigning pope has mentioned he appreciated the presence of the pope emeritus on the Vatican, describing him as being like a “wise grandfather.”

Monseigneur Christian Lepine, the Archbishop of Montreal, mentioned Benedict was a person of religion who sought dialogue with those that had totally different convictions.

“He was a man of conviction, but at the same time he always wanted to be a man of dialogue, conviction I would say was first, but dialogue was not far behind.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau additionally praised Benedict’s work as a theologian.

“His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI dedicated his life to serving his faith. He was an accomplished theologian and scholar, and he was an inspiration to millions,” Trudeau wrote on Twitter. “My thoughts are with Catholics around the world and all those who are mourning his passing.”

McGrattan, who’s the vice-president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, mentioned earlier than his election as pope, Benedict noticed the necessity for the church to deal with sexual abuse in a extra clear, forthright method. And because the cardinal liable for the Doctrine of the Faith, he mentioned Benedict modified the way in which the church approached sexual abuse allegations.

“He called it an ‘open wound’ on different occasions, he met with victims of sexual abuse and, I think those not only gestures, but concrete actions was the beginning, under his pontificate, for the church to begin to deal with this, and Pope Francis is continuing in that same path,” McGrattan mentioned.

Benedict additionally met with residential faculty survivors in 2009 and in 2012 canonized the primary Indigenous saint from North America.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, born to a Mohawk father and Algonquin mom in 1656, is the patron saint of the atmosphere and Indigenous individuals. A shrine containing her relics is situated at a church in Kahnawake, close to Montreal.

Joseph Ratzinger was elected the 265th pope in 2005. After his retirement, Benedict was criticized in an impartial report commissioned by the German church for his dealing with of 4 circumstances of abuse when he was archbishop of Munich.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Dec. 31, 2022.

— With recordsdata from The Associated Press, Mathieu Paquette and Elo Gauthier Lamothe in Montreal and Jordan Omstead in Toronto.

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