Lhe Catholic world in unison to salute the memory of Pope Benedict XVI, who died at the age of 95 this Saturday. The German Chancellor pays tribute to a “significant figure” of the Catholic Church. “As a ‘German’ pope, Benedict XVI was for many, and not just in this country, a special church leader,” Olaf Scholz said on his Twitter account, also calling him a “combative personality” and a “intelligent theologian”.
Emmanuel Macron hailed the work of the former pope, “who worked with soul and intelligence for a more fraternal world”. His Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, spoke of a “defender of traditional Christian values”. “Benedict XVI was an eminent religious and state figure, a convinced defender of traditional Christian values,” he wrote in a message of condolence to Pope Francis, broadcast by the Kremlin.
My thoughts go out to Catholics in France and around the world, bereaved by the departure of His Holiness Benedict XVI, who worked with soul and intelligence for a more fraternal world.
—Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 31, 2022
“A great theologian”
For her part, Giorgia Meloni spoke of a “giant of faith and reason”, as well as “a great man from history whom history will not forget”. Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, also reacted on Twitter: “I am saddened to learn of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He was a great theologian whose visit to the UK in 2010 was a historic moment for Catholics and non-Catholics in our country,” the British leader tweeted, while the Anglican Church said to pray in memory of the former pope.
The Spanish Socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, hailed the memory of Benedict XVI, “a great theologian who devoted himself to the service of others, justice and peace”. “My most sincere condolences to the Catholic Church for the death of His Holiness Benedict XVI,” tweeted the head of the Spanish government after the death, Saturday morning, of the German pope emeritus at the age of 95.
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Polish President Andrzej Duda recalled that ex-Pope Benedict XVI was “a close collaborator of Saint John Paul II”. “The world has lost one of the greatest theologians of the XXe and XXIe centuries, a close collaborator of Saint John Paul II “, his Polish predecessor in the Vatican, declared on Twitter the head of state of the country traditionally attached to the Catholic faith.
“A Servant of God and His Church”
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, recalled that Benedict XVI had “sent a strong signal with his resignation”. “He saw himself first and foremost as a servant of God and his Church. When his physical capacity declined, he continued to serve, through his prayers. »
For its part, the Conference of Bishops of France recalled that Benedict XVI was “a great theologian” and a pope who “wanted to serve the unity of the Church”. The Conference underlined that “he bravely faced the fact of sexual assaults committed by priests or religious and did not want to preserve anyone from the truth that had to be done in this area”. The Spanish Episcopal Conference for its part recalled in a press release the three visits made by Benedict XVI to Spain, a country with a strong Catholic tradition, during his eight years of pontificate (2005-2013).
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Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill also hailed the memory of former Pope Benedict XVI, celebrating an “eminent theologian” and defender of “traditional values”. The Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, also hailed the memory of Benedict XVI on Saturday, calling him “one of the greatest theologians of his time”. “Pope Benedict XVI was one of the greatest theologians of his time, attached to the faith of the Church and faithful to its defense,” Justin Welby said in a statement, hailing Benedict’s “courageous and humble” resignation. XVI who “recognized the human fragility that affects us all. »