Pope Francis: Best wishes for Benedict XVI on his birthday
April 16, 2013 No Comments“Today is the birthday of Benedict XVI. Let us offer Mass for him, that the Lord might be with him, comfort him, and give him much consolation.”
“Today is the birthday of Benedict XVI. Let us offer Mass for him, that the Lord might be with him, comfort him, and give him much consolation.”
Pope Francis has taken the first step of what could become a period of reform for the Church. Francis has appointed a special group of eight cardinals from around the world to advise him on needed Church reforms.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us not be closed to the newness that God wants to bring into our lives!
There are hopes to have a new pope in place by Easter, this March 31.
The pope-emeritus, as Benedict will be called, will remain at Castel Gandolfo as the cardinals meet to choose his successor.
“so I can continue to serve the Church with the same dedication and the same love with which I have done thus far, but in a way that is better suited to my age and my strength”
The 85-year-old pontiff made the announcement Monday, saying he no longer had the strength to carry out his papal duties.
The move paves the way for elections, now confirmed for 24-25 February.
The new evangelization succeeds to the extent in which faith lived in the Church as a personal experience of Jesus of Nazareth is revitalized.
American health care pioneer Mother Marianne Cope was canonized this past weekend. Mother Marianne, renowned for her work with Hansen’s disease, is one of only 10 Americans thus far to have achieved sainthood.