On the morning of December 31st, Cardinal Kurt Koch celebrated a pontifical Mass at Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s tomb, marking the second anniversary of the pope’s passing.
The Bavarian pope, who died on December 31, 2022, rests just meters from Saint Peter’s tomb in the Vatican grottos.
In his homily, Cardinal Koch reflected on Benedict’s lifelong dedication to exploring the Word of God:
“For at a time when people think of God as a stranger and are too deaf to listen to God, Benedict has reminded us that it is about time to think about God. For the faithful theologian and Pontiff, there could be no greater priority than to show people an access to God, his truth and beauty. To put God in the center, this is the lasting legacy of Pope Benedict’s theology.”
Pope Benedict XVI served from 2005 to 2013, culminating in the first papal resignation in nearly six centuries. Even before his election, he profoundly influenced the global Church as a young theologian at the Second Vatican Council and later as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The Mass concluded with prayers at Benedict XVI’s tomb, where Cardinal Koch paused for a moment of silent reflection.
Adapted by Jacob Stein
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Rudolf Gehrig has been working for EWTN since 2013, among other things as a reporter, TV presenter, and producer. From 2019 to 2022 he was chief correspondent for German-speaking Europe at CNA Deutsch before moving to the Italian capital as a Rome correspondent and has since reported for EWTN Vatican and CNA Deutsch directly from the heart of the universal Church.
