Papal Mass for Deceased Cardinals and Bishops

Vatican Information Service

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On Friday morning, the Pope presided at a Mass at the altar of the Cathedra in the Vatican Basilica in remembrance of the cardinals, archbishops and bishops who died during the course of the last year. Members of the College of Cardinals concelebrated with the Holy Father.

In his homily, Benedict XVI recalled that during the month of November "the great family of the Church" prays and offers "its redeeming sacrifice for the souls of the deceased faithful."

Speaking of the late John Paul II, Benedict XVI affirmed how "he left us, among other shining examples, that most precious example of prayer. At this time too, we take up his spiritual heritage, in the knowledge that his intervention continues even more intensely from heaven."

The Holy Father named the five cardinals who died over the last twelve months: Juan Carlos Aramburu, Jan Pieter Schotte, Corrado Bafile, Jaime Sin and Giuseppe Caprio. "Today, together with their souls, we entrust to the Lord those of the archbishops and bishops who, over the same period, concluded their earthly journey."

Commenting on the reading from the Book of Sirach, which "contains first an exhortation to constancy under trial then an invitation to trust in God," the Pope said: "Whoever puts himself at the service of the Lord and passes his life in ecclesial ministry is not exempt from trials, on the contrary he faces the most insidious ordeals, as the experience of the saints amply shows. But living in fear of God frees the heart from all fear and immerses it in the depths of His love."

"Whoever trusts in Jesus places his faith in God Himself. We human beings need a friend, a brother to take us by the hand and accompany us to 'the Father's house,' we need someone who knows the way well."

Benedict XVI stressed that "Jesus is the way open to everyone, there is no other. And those that appear as 'other' ways, in as much as they are authentic lead back to Him, otherwise they do not bring life. It is, then, a priceless gift that the Father gave humanity sending His only-begotten Son. This gift brings a responsibility, which is greater the closer the relationship with Jesus."

"As we give thanks to God," the Holy Father concluded, "for all the benefits He granted our late confreres, for them we offer the merits of Jesus' passion and death to compensate for shortcomings due to human frailty."