Dear faithful of the Diocese of Pembroke, it is with both sadness and gratitude that we join all Christians and non-Christians around the world in marking the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI this Saturday, December 31, 2022, at 09:34 a.m. (Rome local time) in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery at the Vatican. His funeral will take place on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. local time in Rome.

I will preside at a special funeral Mass called “Memorial” on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Columbkille in Pembroke. You are all cordially invited to attend. Masses will also be held in several churches of our diocese.

Here is an excerpt from the obituary we published on Saturday, December 31, 2022:

Joseph Ratzinger was born on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, Germany. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 1951 for the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. For many years, he served as a professor of theology at Tübingen and Regensburg, and distinguished himself as a scholarly author. He was a peritus (appointed expert) at the Second Vatican Council.

Ordained to the Episcopate on May 28, 1977, having been appointed archbishop of his home diocese, he was created Cardinal on June 27 of that same year.

From 1982 to 2005, he served alongside St. John Paul II as Prefect of the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

He was elected Pope on April 19, 2005, and served for almost eight years, becoming the first pope in almost 600 years to renounce the office, which he did on February 28, 2013. 

May he rest in the peace of the Lord, awaiting a share in Christ’s Resurrection.

Your devoted servant in Jesus the Redeemer,

Most Reverend Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R.

Bishop of Pembroke