The Church bids farewell to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

The Church bids farewell to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Today we mourn the loss of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who passed away peacefully this morning. We are grateful for his love for the Church and for his life-long commitment to the service of the Lord.

Bishop Daniel E. Flores will celebrate a Mass at noon today at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville to pray for the repose of his soul.

Bishop Flores, who was named a bishop by Pope Benedict in 2006 when appointed as auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of Detroit, and three years later appointed him bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville, recalled the interior calm of the late pontiff.

“Whenever I was in his presence, I was aware of a deep interior calm that pervaded him. I pray for the grace of that calm in the midst of many storms.

I remember the Vespers celebrated at World Youth Day in Madrid (2011). A torrential rain interrupted the prayers. Pope Benedict didn’t move or leave, though his advisors wanted him to. He waited. The young people didn’t leave either. And when the storm had passed, he spoke to the young people from his heart: ‘The Lord is with us in the storm.’

Such a memorable moment and example of grace.”

May he rest in peace.