We would like to pay tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who died at his Vatican residence, aged 95. He led the Catholic Church for just under eight years from 2005 until 2013 and spent his final years at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery within the walls of the Vatican. We have sadly lost a leading figure in our Catholic Church and a member of our St George family. Pope Benedict is very much in our hearts and prayers.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols (head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales) said Pope Benedict was "one of the great theologians of the 20th century".
In a statement he said: "I remember with particular affection the remarkable Papal Visit to these lands in 2010. We saw his courtesy, his gentleness, the perceptiveness of his mind and the openness of his welcome to everybody that he met. He was through and through a gentleman, through and through a scholar, through and through a pastor, through and through a man of God - close to the Lord and always his humble servant."

You may know that children from every school in our diocese attended the ‘Big Assembly’ with Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. He gave a special talk to the young people there at St. Mary’s Twickenham, calling on them to become saints. You can read his speech and watch the assembly here:

https://thepapalvisit.org.uk/home/replay-the-visit/day-two/pope-benedicts-address-to-pupils/

Please click on the link below to a diocesan prayer for the repose of the soul of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI 1927-2022 Requiescat in pace - Portsmouth Diocese, Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth

Finally, we say: