Died at the age of 95
Newspaper reveals Benedict XVI’s last words
1/1/2023 1:18 am
Former Pope Benedict XVI. passed away at the age of 95. In his last words, the priest addressed Jesus Christ, writes the Argentine newspaper “La Nación”. The newspaper also reports what happened followingwards.
The last words of the late Pope Benedict XVI. were, according to a media report, “Jesus, I love you”. This was reported by the Argentine newspaper “La Nación”, citing informed sources. The emeritus head of the Catholics died on Saturday morning at 9:34 a.m. at the age of 95 in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican Gardens. Immediately followingwards, his private secretary Georg Gänswein informed Pope Francis, as the newspaper, which is usually well informed regarding the incumbent pontiff, continued.
The 86-year-old Argentine was ten minutes later in Benedict’s monastery and prayed there in silence on his lifeless body. According to “La Nación”, Francis wanted the news of the death of the native Bavarian to be spread immediately followingwards. During his general audience last Wednesday, the former Bishop of Buenos Aires called on the faithful to pray for his seriously ill predecessor, thereby making his poor health public.
“Don’t get confused!”
In his will, Benedict XVI expressed his thanks but also asked for forgiveness. In his spiritual testament, which the Vatican published on Saturday evening, he thanked God for giving him life and leading him through all sorts of tribulations. “Pray for me that the Lord will let me into the eternal mansions in spite of all my sins and shortcomings,” asked Pope Francis’ predecessor.
He asked his companions: “Be firm in your faith! Don’t let yourselves be confused!” Benedict also spoke of “dark and arduous stretches” of his path, on which the Lord had guided him well. “I sincerely apologize to anyone I have wronged in any way,” he wrote.
On January 2, Joseph Ratzinger, like Benedict XVI. with his real name meant being laid out in St. Peter’s Basilica so that the faithful might say goodbye to him. The funeral service is scheduled for January 5th.
