Benedict, who was the primary pontiff in virtually 600 years to resign his place, quite than maintain workplace for all times, handed away on Saturday, based on a press release from the Vatican.
During the testomony, which consisted of a letter containing the pope’s last phrases, Benedict spoke of the “many reasons” he needed to be grateful for his life.
In the letter dated August 29, 2006, the previous pope thanked God for guiding him “well” all through life.
He additionally expressed gratitude to his mother and father who he stated gave him “life in a difficult time.”
He went on to thank his sister for her “selfless” assist and his brother for the “clarity of judgment” he shared with him.
Benedict was recognized to be extra conservative than his successor, Pope Francis, who has made strikes to melt the Vatican’s place on abortion and homosexuality, in addition to doing extra to take care of the sexual abuse disaster which engulfed the church lately and clouded Benedict’s legacy.
Benedict requested for forgiveness
In April 2019, Benedict mentioned the intercourse abuse disaster in a public letter, claiming it was induced partially by the sexual revolution of the Sixties and the liberalisation of the church’s ethical teachings.
In January 2020, Benedict was compelled to distance himself from a guide broadly seen as undercutting Francis as he thought-about whether or not to permit married males to develop into clergymen in sure circumstances.
The guide, From the Depths of Our Hearts, argued in favor of the centuries-old custom of priestly celibacy throughout the Catholic Church. Benedict was initially listed as co-author, however later clarified he had solely contributed one part of the textual content.
A 12 months later, Benedict got here beneath hearth over his time as archbishop of Munich and Freising, between 1977 and 1982, following the publication of a church-commissioned report into abuse by Catholic clergy there.
In the 2006 letter, the previous pope requested “sincerely” for “forgiveness” for these he “wronged in any way,” in his letter.
In the closing phrases, the previous pontiff requested “humbly,” regardless of all his “sins and shortcomings,” he be welcomed by God into heaven.
In a separate letter revealed by the Vatican in February 2022, Benedict issued a normal apology to survivors of abuse, writing: “Once again I can only express to all the victims of sexual abuse my profound shame, my deep sorrow and my heartfelt request for forgiveness,” however he admitted to no private or particular wrongdoing.
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There isn’t any suggestion his act of contrition in his last letter pertains to the Catholic Church’s dealing with of sexual abuse accusations towards clergymen.
