CHURCH. TOM: THE BELLS TOLLED AT THE VATICAN YESTERDAY MORNING ALERTING THE FAITHFUL TO THE , FORMER POPE’S DEATH. THE BODY OF THE FORMER POPE WILL LIE IN STATE IN SAINT PETER’S BASILICA TOMORROW WHERE IT WILL REMAIN FOR THREE DAYS FOR PUBLIC VIEWING. HIS FUNERAL IS SET FOR THURSDAY , JANUARY 5, IN SAINT PETER’S SQUARE WITH CURRENT POPE FRANCIS PRESIDING. POPE BENEDICT HAD WISHED FOR HIS FUNERAL TO BE LOW KEY. AFTERWARD HE WILL BE BURIED IN THE VATICAN GROTTOES BENEATH THE CHURCH. PITTSBURGH BISHOP DAVID ZUBIK SAID IN A STATEMENT YESTERDAY THAT THE WAY BENEDICT LIVED HIS LIFE IS A MODEL FOR ALL CATHOLICS AS THEY JOURNEY TOGETHER IN SERVICE TO JESUS AND HIS CHURCH. THE BISHOP RECALLED MEETING THE FORMER POPE. >> I HAPPENED TO BE IN ROME IN THE FRONT ROW OF ST. PETER’S SQUARE THE MOMENT WHEN BENEDICT WAS ELECTED SO THAT WAS A THRILL TO BE THERE. NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE BEEN THEN AS FATE WORKED OUT I WAS ACTUALLY IN ROME THE DAY THAT HE LEFT THE VATICAN. TOM: THE DIOCESE WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MASS ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, AT 7:00 P.M. AT SAINT PAUL CATHEDRAL IN OAKLAND. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND. AND CATHOLICS AROUND THE WORLD ARE REMEMBERING THE FORMER POPE. FATHER NICHOLAS VASKOV IS THE DIRECTOR OF PITTSBURGH’S SHRINE CHURCHES NOW. THIS MORNING, HE’S REFLECTING ON THE FIVE TIMES HE MET POPE BENEDICT WHILE STUDYING IN ROME. DESCRIBING HIM AS A GENTLE SOUL. >> I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE GENEROSITY OF HIS LIFE. WHILE HE MUCH RATHER WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE, HE TOOK ON THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR FAITH AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLES IN THE WORLD AND DID SO WITH GREAT GRACE AND THEN AFTER HIS RETIREMENT JUST CONTINUED TO WORK IN PRAYER AND WRITING AND IN SO MANY WAYS JUST A GREAT EXAMPLE OF GIVING OF ONESELF. TOM: AND THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF GREENSBURG WILL ALSO HOLD A MASS FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOUL OF THE POPE EMERITUS. BISHOP LARRY KULICK WILL CELEBRATE THE MASS TOMORROW , JANUAR
Pittsburgh, Greensburg dioceses to hold masses for Pope Benedict
Updated: 7:38 AM EST Jan 2, 2023
The Catholic Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Greensburg announced on Friday that they would hold special masses this week in memory of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI."The way that he has lived quietly, in a brotherly friendship with his successor, Pope Francis, is a model for all Catholics to follow as we continue to journey together in service to Jesus and His Church," said Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik in a statement.Greensburg Bishop Larry Kulick said Benedict "dedicated his life to serving the Church in a variety of capacities. He was a consummate theologian and one of the great intellectual lights of the Post-Conciliar Church. He faced many modern-day challenges in his papacy and proved himself to be a gentle shepherd."The Pittsburgh diocese's mass will be conducted at Saint Paul Cathedral on Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. Greensburg's mass will be held at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral on Jan. 2 at 11:45 a.m.In a statement following the former pope's death, Duquesne University president Ken Gormley said that, "Although his service as Pope lasted only eight years before health concerns cut short that important work, Pope Benedict had long been an institution at the Vatican, serving as prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, and as close advisor to Pope John Paul II, for decades... Pope Benedict’s imprint on the Catholic Church will be an indelible one."The Vatican confirmed Pope Benedict's death Saturday morning at the age of 95. On Saturday night, current Pope Francis made his first public comments and paying homage at Saint Peter's Basilica.Francis expressed "gratitude to him for all the good he accomplished, and above all, for his witness of faith and prayer, especially in these last years of his life. Only God knows the value of his sacrifices for the good of the Church."The bells tolled at the Vatican Saturday morning, alerting the faithful to the former pope's death.
The Catholic Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Greensburg announced on Friday that they would hold special masses this week in memory of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
"The way that he has lived quietly, in a brotherly friendship with his successor, Pope Francis, is a model for all Catholics to follow as we continue to journey together in service to Jesus and His Church," said Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik in a statement.
Greensburg Bishop Larry Kulick said Benedict "dedicated his life to serving the Church in a variety of capacities. He was a consummate theologian and one of the great intellectual lights of the Post-Conciliar Church. He faced many modern-day challenges in his papacy and proved himself to be a gentle shepherd."
The Pittsburgh diocese's mass will be conducted at Saint Paul Cathedral on Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. Greensburg's mass will be held at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral on Jan. 2 at 11:45 a.m.
In a statement following the former pope's death, Duquesne University president Ken Gormley said that, "Although his service as Pope lasted only eight years before health concerns cut short that important work, Pope Benedict had long been an institution at the Vatican, serving as prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, and as close advisor to Pope John Paul II, for decades... Pope Benedict’s imprint on the Catholic Church will be an indelible one."
The Vatican confirmed Pope Benedict's death Saturday morning at the age of 95.
On Saturday night, current Pope Francis made his first public comments and paying homage at Saint Peter's Basilica.
Francis expressed "gratitude to him for all the good he accomplished, and above all, for his witness of faith and prayer, especially in these last years of his life. Only God knows the value of his sacrifices for the good of the Church."
The bells tolled at the Vatican Saturday morning, alerting the faithful to the former pope's death.