by Margaux Salcedo
There has been an outpouring of love and gratitude for Pope Benedict XVI from the faithful in the Philippines: a Requiem Mass was held at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on January 2, a Eucharistic Celebration for the eternal repose of his soul would be presided by the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines on January 3, and the Christ the King Chapel inside the Manila Cathedral was opened for the faithful who would want to offer prayers, light candles and write in the book of condolences for our dearly departed Pope Emeritus.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines through its President Bishop Pablo Virgilio David issued this statement:
A mass for the eternal repose of the Holy Father Pope Emeritus Benedict would also be held at the San Roque Cathedral to be presided by CBCP President Bishop Pablo Virgilio David on January 3, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
It will be recalled that in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI had occasion to meet with the Catholic Bishops from the Philippines:
Archdiocese of Manila
Cardinal Jose Advincula, Archbishop of Manila, also issued a statement:
Meanwhile, the Manila Cathedral announced:
POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT XVI (1927-2022)
The Christ the King Chapel inside the Manila Cathedral is now open for the faithful who may want to offer prayers, light candles and write in the book of condolences for our dearly departed Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He passed away today at 9:34am (Rome time) in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.
May he now rest in God’s peace.
Archdiocese of Cebu
In Cebu, a Requiem Mass was held in honor of Pope Benedict XVI, whom they noted canonized St. Pedro Calungsod. It was Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal who asked permission from the Vatican, in 1980, to initiate the beatification and canonization cause of Pedro Calungsod. The second Filipino saint was born in Ginatilan, Cebu.
Msgr Jan Limchua, who is Papal Chaplain or a member of the Papal Household, was also in Cebu and gave the homily for the Requiem Mass. Watch the Requiem Mass where the homily of Msgr Jan, that included a personal tribute to Father Benedict, is at the 35:04 timestamp, here:
Funeral
The remains of Pope Benedict XVI lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican from Monday, January 3, to Wednesday, January 4. The funeral mass will be presided by Pope Francis on January 5, Thursday.
The Pope Emeritus died on December 31, 2022 at 09:34 (08:34 GMT) at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery within the walls of the Vatican. He was 95 years old.