Circular #22.95

Dear Brother Priests, Deacons, Subdeacons, Consecrated Men and Women, and Lay Faithful:

After a long life, lived faithfully in the bosom of the Church, Pope Benedict XVI has completed his earthy pilgrimage and now returns to the bosom of the Heavenly Father.

The Pope Emeritus has been preparing for his final judgement by One whom he describes also as friend. The Church and the world are much better because of his life, and we will continue to mine treasures from his teachings and writings. However, the most poignant lessons we will draw are from the way he lived his life in conformity to what he taught and in humble and great respect for both faith and reason.

Pope Benedict was a man of the Church, and he used his intellectual skills to help us understand the Church’s faith in a more profound and inspiring way. His first encyclical was God is Love, and this will treasure will be how he is remembered.

May this humble servant, who called himself a pilgrim, now rest in peace.

+ Gregory John Mansour