Pope: Benedict XVI "continues to serve the Church"

Marking the 65th anniversary of Benedict XVI’s priestly ordination, Francis said that from the place where his predecessor now lives "come tranquility, peace, strength, confidence, maturity, faith, dedication and loyalty” that “do so much good and give so much strength to me and to the whole Church.”

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis marked the 65th anniversary of the ordination of his predecessor, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, during a ceremony held in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall.

In his address, the current pontiff said that Benedict XVI "continues to serve the Church". From the “little corner” where he now lives "come tranquility, peace, strength, confidence, maturity, faith, dedication and loyalty” that “do so much good and give so much strength to me and to the whole Church. And let me also say that from there also comes a healthy and joyful sense of humor."

The Pope Emeritus arrived around 11.45 am, greeted to the applause of cardinals and monsignors and sat to the side of the platform arranged for the reigning Pope who arrived shortly afterwards, a few minutes ahead of schedule, going straight to his predecessor, who rose to his feet, white skullcap in his hand. Francis hugged him.

In the following short speech, Francis said that love for the Lord “ruled” Pope Benedict XVI’s life. "This is what ruled an entire life devoted to the priestly service and true theology that you, and this is no coincidence, defined as 'the pursuit of the beloved'. This is what you have always born witness to, and which you bear witness to, today, namely that the crucial thing in our days, be they sunny or rainy, the one thing from which everything else comes, is that the Lord be truly present, that we desire him, that we be close to him in our inner self, that we love him, that we truly and deeply believe in him, and that by believing in him we truly love him.”

• vatican
• popes
• benedict xvi
• francis
• clementine hall