Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (1927- 2022)

The Catholic community in Nigeria and all over the world was thrown into mourning when Pope Benedict XVI died on the last day of 2022 at the age of 95.

A statement by the Vatican said the 95-year-old pontiff died at 9:34 am on Saturday in his residence at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Rome. The Catholic Pope Emeritus had been down with sickness before he passed away.

Pope Francis had on Wednes­day announced that his prede­cessor, Pope Benedict, was very sick after a deterioration in his health.

In his tribute, President Muhammadu Buhari said Pope Benedict XVI was greatly admired globally for his selfless leadership, renowned learning as a theologian, and dedication to advance inter-faith dialogue and peace.

President Buhari said the late Pontiff will be remembered as a true servant of God who used the benevolent gifts of the Almighty upon his life to serve the Church and humanity in humility, reverence and piety, living in word and deed the virtues of a true Christian disciple.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said the late Pope Benedict XVI positively influenced people across religious divides all over the world during his lifetime.

In his comment, the Head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, said Pope Benedict was “one of the great theologians of the 20th century”.

The death of Pope Benedict XVI has sent reverberated throughout the world, as people from all walks of life mourn the loss of a spiritual leader who touched the lives of countless individuals.

Pope Benedict, born Joseph Ratzinger, was elected to the papacy in 2005, succeeding Pope John Paul II. From the beginning, he faced a number of challenges, including a decline in the number of Catholics worldwide and a rise in secularism.

Despite these challenges, Pope Benedict remained steadfast in his commitment to the church and its teachings, working tirelessly to spread the message of love and hope to all people.

One of the hallmarks of Pope Benedict’s papacy was his emphasis on traditional values. He was a vocal advocate for the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family, and he worked tirelessly to defend these values against what he saw as the forces of secularism and moral relativism.

His strong stance on these issues earned him both admiration and criticism, but it was clear that he was deeply committed to upholding the teachings of the church.

In addition to his focus on traditional values, Pope Benedict was also known for his commitment to ecumenism and interfaith dialogue.

He worked to build bridges between different faith communities, and he made it a priority to reach out to non-Christians in an effort to build understanding and respect. His efforts in this area earned him the respect and admiration of people of all faiths, and he will be remembered as a leader who worked to promote peace and understanding in a world that is often divided by religious differences.

Despite the many challenges he faced, Pope Benedict remained a popular and respected figure throughout his papacy. His humility, wisdom, and deep faith endeared him to people around the world, and he will be remembered as a leader who brought hope and inspiration to countless individuals.

The late Pope made history in 2013 when he became the first pope to resign, instead of serving for the rest of his life, in almost 600 years.

He gave his advanced age as the reason at the time of his decision, adding that he no longer had the “strengths” required for the “adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.”

The last Pope to resign before his death was Gregory XII, who in 1415 quit to end a strife with­in the Catholic Church in which more than one man claimed to be pope.

As the world mourns the loss of Pope Benedict, this newspaper emphasises that it is important to remember the many contributions he made to the church and to the world. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the message of love and hope he shared with all people.