King Charles has hailed Pope Benedict XVI’s efforts to promote peace and goodwill as he paid tribute to the former Pontiff following his death.
Pope Benedict, who retired as leader of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013, died on New Year’s Eve 2022 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican City.
King Charles, who met Pope Benedict in 2009, sent a message of condolence to Pope Francis hours after the death of Benedict XVI was announced.
The King said ”I received the news of the death of your predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, with deep sadness. I remember with fondness my meeting with His Holiness during my visit to the Vatican in 2009.”
Speaking of Benedict XVI’s State Visit to the UK, the first ever by a Pope, King Charles said ”His visit to the United Kingdom in 2010 was important in strengthening the relations between the Holy See and the United Kingdom.”
King Charles, now Supreme Governor of the Church of England, also said ”I also recall his constant efforts to promote peace and goodwill to all people, and to strengthen the relationship between the global Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.”
The King concluded ”My wife and I send our continued good wishes for your own pontificate.”
The message was signed ”Charles R”.
Pope Benedict XVI was 95 years old. He was born Joseph Ratzinger in Bavaria in 1927. He was ordained as a priest in 1951 and became Archbishop of Munich in 1977. He was a close adviser of Pope John Paul II throughout his Papacy and became Pope in 2005 on the death of John Paul II.
Just days ago, Pope Francis asked people to pray for Benedict XVI as his health declined.
