In his homily, Pope Francis recalled how Jesus’ final phrases — “Father, into your palms I commend my spirit” — summed up the “ceaseless self-entrustment” to God that had outlined Benedict’s life.
Francis didn’t point out Benedict by identify till the final line, wherein he referred to Jesus because the bridegroom of the church. “Benedict, devoted good friend of the Bridegroom, might your pleasure be full as you hear his voice, now and ceaselessly.”
However along with mourning Benedict because the church’s former pastor, the pope’s brief speech included traces that may very well be interpreted as referring to the soft-spoken German theologian whose life’s work was meditating on the lifetime of Jesus, and who confronted many challenges as pope earlier than his retirement in 2013.
“Just like the Grasp, a shepherd bears the burden of interceding and the pressure of anointing his folks, particularly in conditions the place goodness should battle to prevail and the dignity of our brothers and sisters is threatened,” Francis mentioned. “In the middle of this intercession, the Lord quietly bestows the spirit of meekness that is able to perceive, settle for, hope and threat, however any misunderstandings which may end result.”
Francis added that “holding quick to the Lord’s final phrases and to the witness of his whole life, we too, as an ecclesial group, wish to observe in his steps and to commend our brother into the palms of the Father.
“Might these merciful palms discover his lamp alight with the oil of the Gospel that he unfold and testified to for his whole life,” he mentioned.
