Pope Francis: grateful for Benedict XVI's witness of faith

During the Te Deum at the end of the year in St Peter's, the pontiff paid homage to his predecessor who passed away this morning. Next Thursday, 5 January, the funeral of the Pope Emeritus will take place in front of the Vatican basilica. Benedict XVI was an example of the kindness that is God's style “to enter into history” and an “indispensable [condition] to live in peace, to live as brothers and sisters.”

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis led the traditional end-of-year Vespers this evening in the Vatican basilica followed by the recitation of the Te Deum.

During the liturgy, Francis spoke about Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died this morning at the age of 95. “Only God knows the value and the power of his intercession, of the sacrifices he offered for the good of the Church,” he said.

The pontiff, who will lead the funeral of Benedict XVI next Thursday, 5 January, at 9:30 am in St. Peter's Square, cited his predecessor as an example of the "kindness" that was at the centre of the homily that is traditionally addressed on 31 December, in particular to the city of Rome.

“We are moved as we recall him as such a noble person, so kind. And we feel such gratitude in our hearts: gratitude to God for having given him to the Church and to the world; gratitude to him for all the good he accomplished, and above all, for his witness of faith and prayer, especially in these last years of his recollected life.

As for kindness, it is God's style “to enter into history” “born of a woman”, relying on Mary’s freely given ‘yes’. Indeed, “Kindness,” the pope explained, “is an important aspect of the culture of dialogue, and dialogue is indispensable to live in peace, to live as brothers and sisters, who do not always agree – this is normal – but who nevertheless speak to each other, listen to each other and try to understand each other and to move toward one another.”

Kindness, he added, is “not a question of ‘etiquette’,” but rather “a benevolent attitude that sustains and comforts others and avoids any form of roughness and harshness.” Unfortunately, we tend to perceive others “as obstacles to our tranquillity”, a by-product of our consumeristic individualism.

“Others ‘inconvenience’ us, ‘disturb’ us, rob us of the time and resources to do as we please. [. . .] And yet, within these very societies of ours, and even in the most difficult situations we face, there are individuals who demonstrate how it is possible to ‘cultivate kindness’ and thus, by their style of life, they ‘become stars shining in the midst of darkness’.”

“Dear brothers and sisters,” said Francis in concluding, “I think that retrieving kindness as a personal and civic virtue might help a great deal to improve life within families, communities and cities. For this reason, as we look to the new year as the City of Rome, my wish for all of us who live here is that we might grow in this virtue: kindness. Experience teaches that kindness, if it becomes a style of life, can create a healthy living together, it can humanize social relationships, diffusing aggression and indifference”.

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• kindness