Funeral Services

My greatest memory of that visit, as for many, is when he went to Hyde Park where hundreds of thousands of people were gathered, many of them young. There was something of a carnival feel about it. At one point the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, and the huge crowd fell completely silent. There then followed a period of quiet adoration and devotion before the Lord. I couldn’t think of any other circumstance where something like that would happen.

It was perfectly appropriate and seemed to capture what the ministry of Pope Benedict was all about: a holy pastor who led us to the person of Jesus Christ.

He was already an elderly man when he was elected Pope and, apparently, took on this ministry of leadership of the Church with some reluctance. Even that itself was an expression of his humility.

Of course, he had his faults and failings.

Today we ask God’s mercy for any sins he committed through human frailty. And we give thanks for this servant of God and servant of the Church. A holy and humble Pastor, a great teacher of the faith, a man with a profound love for God and for His people.

May he be supported by the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and by the prayers of the whole Church.

And may he rest in peace and rise in glory.