{UAH} POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT XVI DIES AT 95

The last week of December 2022 will go down in history as having cost the world two great legends, first, on 29/12/2022 with the death of Pele the greatest footballer in soccer history, and then two days later on 31/12/2022 with that of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI one of the greatest theologians Christianity has ever produced.May God welcome in heavenly glory the two icons.

Below, the body of Pope Benedict XVI lying in the chapel of Mater Ecclesia Monastery within the Vatican where the deceased Pontiff has been residing. From Monday, the 2nd of January it will be transferred to St Peter's Basilica where it will be viewed for three days  by hundreds of thousands of people among whom heads of state. Then on Thursday January 5 it will be buried in the grotto of St Peter's Basilica following a solemn Pontifical High Mass presided by Pope Francis in St Peter's Square before hundreds of thousands of mourners including dignitaries from the whole world.

The deceased had expressed his will to be buried in that tomb where Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II had been interred before they were exhumed and placed in special reliquaries in St Peter's Basilica.

Following that of the great footballer, real mourning for a very great Pope is now going on all over the world.The world regrets the departure of a very intellectual personality of exceptional intelligence in many fields, including theology where he was counted among the greatest in Christianity. The very humble Pope Benedict XVI, who set a precedent by being the first Pope in modern times to resign from the high apostolic office, died last Saturday ( 31/12/2022) in the early morning hours in his residence at the Vatican. his death is a very big shocker to the entire world.Thousands of messages are arriving at the Vatican expressing deep condolences on the demise of such an exemplary world leader. All world leaders including Joe Biden, Poutine, Macron, King Charles III, the President of Italy, the Chancellor of Germany, etc...have already sent messages of sincere condolences.

The very great theologian, who as a priest and professor at seminary, was one of the most eminent expert advisers during the Second Vatican Council in the early sixties. Having impressed a lot in all sessions, Pope Paul VI appointed him Archbishop of Munich in his native Germany.This is still the richest diocese in the Catholic Church. He excelled there and was appointed to head a ministry at the Vatican, and eventually created cardinal by Pope John Paul II whom he succeeded in 2005 and ruled for 8 years until 2013. He decided to resign in order to help the Church choose someone whom he would believe to be more apt for the job than him. God has paid this humility by making retired Pope Benedict almost as a living saint and model of good example, hence the immense popularity he continues now to enjoy even in death.

It isn't only the 2 billion Catholics all over the world who are agonizing at this moment but also the entire world.His funeral next Thursday will attract crowds headed by 182 government delegations from all over the world.The send-off will just be heroic, befitting a person who has been spotless in his entire life.King Charles III has thrown in an important note of appreciation when he has commended Pope Benedict's effort to bring closer Anglicanism and Catholicism.

Many other leaders have also showered praises in his regard.Various episcopal conferences are also defining a Pope who was a symbol of truth, wisdom, and extreme loyalty to God.And very many places, including his native Germany, are almost in tears. And indeed many thousands of people from Germany and other European countries will travel to Rome to attend his funeral and they will be part of the hundreds of thousands of people who will file past the body to pay their respects and also part of an estimated 300.000 mourners who will pack St Peter's Square for Thursday's Requiem Mass.Very many media platforms are already in Rome with thousands of their journalists, reporters, photographers, etc...to cover the funeral ceremonies.Many were part of the 50.000-strong crowd in St Peter's Square that attended the Sunday's Angelus prayer presided by the Pope.

Pope Benedict, who had the courage to declare Pope Pius XII Servant of God in view of promoting his beatification and canonization processes,is praised for his effort to bring everyone on board in his Church, including traditionalists, and is equally saluted for the excellent nominations and appointments of cardinals and bishops.He's the one who appointed and created cardinals Africa's very vibrant and exceptionally intelligent prelates,Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, retired Archbishop of Kinshasa who was seen by many as one of his possible successors, and Nigeria's Cardinal John Onaiyekan, retired Archbishop of Abuja.

These two great African minds have left a very strong trace in all the various Pontifical councils and dicasteries they have served in as full members and advisers..

Africa was also gradually proving to be Pope Benedict's preserve.His two visits to the continent in 2009 and 2011proved his excellent hopes for the continent which very madly welcomed him, first in Cameroon and Angola in 2009, and then in Benin in 2011. Crowds rivalled those that would welcome Pope John Paul II in his native Poland. Millions and millions of people of all denominations turned up to cheer him.And in Angola,where he presided over a solemn pontifical high mass before two million people, the sermon he gave in Portuguese calling on Angolans to finally put an end to the atrocities that had divided the country and to start looking at every fellow citizen as a brother and a sister in Jesus Christ, was received with cheers, applauses and ululations and tears.It really marked the whole country to the extent that when news of his resignation was announced many people in Angola wept and openly regretted Pope Benedict's

departure.And when the President of Angola came to the Vatican he requested to pay a courtesy visit to the monastery where Pope Benedict was residing in his retirement.

Another very great friend of Africa and of the entire humanity dies, May the Almighty Omnipotent Most Bountiful God grant his soul a very much deserving rest in His Eternal Heavenly Glory! Thank you beloved Pope Benedict XVI for everything! May your very good actions and excellent service to God and to humanity procure for you the Crown for the Eternal Reward in Heaven!

Fare thee well, Great Pope!

Dr G.H.Kkolokolo

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