ITALY: German pilgrims hold a mass in Rome the day before Pope Benedict's abdication to express their gratitude to the German-born pontiff

Record ID: 862977

  • Title: ITALY: German pilgrims hold a mass in Rome the day before Pope Benedict's abdication to express their gratitude to the German-born pontiff
  • Date: 27th February 2013
  • Summary: PROCESSION WALKING DOWN AISLE INSIDE CHURCH HEAD OF THE GERMAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE, ARCHBISHOP ROBERT ZOLLITSCH, WALKING DOWN AISLE PAINTING OF POPE BENEDICT ON WALL ALTAR
  • Embargoed: 14th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • City:
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVABJ0Q4U27IBW0DKIDUBUGLA73J
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  • Story Text: German pilgrims in Rome gave thanks to Pope Benedict at a mass on Wednesday (February 27), hours after the pontiff held his final general audience.
    Hundreds of German Catholics attended the mass in Rome, which was conducted by the head of German Bishops Conference Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, who had travelled to the Italian capital to be present at Benedict's final public appearance.
    Speaking in his homily, Zollitsch praised the German-born pontiff for his decision to resign when his physical strength was decreasing.

    "He remained true to himself like seldom any other person, simply because he stayed true to Christ and his message. And so he was able to talk with such openness about his failing strengths, which no longer allow him to carry out his service as pope and which moved him to his resignation. This impressed millions of people around the world and filled them with respect," he said.
    Pope Benedict bid an emotional farewell at his last general audience, acknowledging the "rough seas" that marked his papacy "when it seemed that the Lord was sleeping," but certain his abdication was for the good of the Church.

    "Thank you, I am very moved," Benedict told a crowd of more than 150,000 people in St. Peter's Square in an unusually public outpouring for such a private man.
    Those who attended the German thanksgiving mass said they felt it was a fitting end to the day, and a fitting farewell to the German pope.

    "It was very nice. I think it was a good ending to a very special, one-off day. We saw here, as we did this morning on St Peter's Square, how much German and especially Bavarian believers feel connected with the pope. This was really worthwhile," said Giovanni Pezzante from Munich.

    "It was a very special day, which was very moving of course with the final general audience of Pope Benedict this morning. With the many many pilgrims who came, the connection between the whole church of the world was clear to see, and this thanksgiving mass with many German and Bavarian pilgrims, this is also very moving and unforgettable," said Angela Buervenich.
    Starting from 2000 local time (1900GMT) on Thursday evening (February 28), when Benedict officially leaves office, he will hold the title of "Pope Emeritus."
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