Germany’s president is praising the late Pope Benedict XVI’s dedication to dialogue between Christian denominations and with different religions.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier mentioned in a message of condolences to Pope Francis that “the election of a pope from the motherland of the Reformation and an intellectual who had made the dialogue between faith and reason his life’s task was an important signal for many people around the world.” Steinmeier mentioned that the German-born pontiff “particularly cared about the unity of Christendom and the dialog of religions, the connection between religion and society.” He added that “he sought dialog with Jews and Muslims and with all Christian denominations worldwide.” ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS: Benedict XVI, first pope to resign in 600 years, dies at 95 Benedict’s lasting mark on papacy can be his resignation Highlights from the lifetime of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI ___ ROME — Italian President Sergio Mattarella mentioned the demise of the pope emeritus is a trigger for grief for your entire nation. Mattarella mentioned that “his sweetness and his wisdom had benefited our community and the entire international community.” He added in an announcement that Benedict “continued to serve the cause of his Church in his unique role of pope emeritus with humility and serenity.? The president said that Benedict “interpreted with finesse the reasons of dialogue, of peace, of the dignity of the person, as well as the supreme interests of religions.” ___ VATICAN CITY — The Vatican says that Pope Francis will have a good time the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday.

It can be an unprecedented occasion wherein a present pope will have a good time the funeral for a former one.

Francis was elected after Benedict resigned in 2013.

___ LONDON — The religious head of the Anglican church says that “in his life and ministry, Pope Benedict XVI directed people to Christ.” The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, wrote on Twitter: “I join with Pope Francis and all the Catholic Church in mourning his death. May he rest in Christ’s peace and rise in glory with all the Saints.” ___ OSLO, Norway — In predominantly Lutheran Norway, the Catholic bishop of Oslo, Bernt Ivar Eidsvig, known as Benedict “the last great theologian of the past 100 years.” Eidsvig advised Norwegian broadcaster NRK that “He masters all the theological subjects. I cannot think of anyone else who does.” ___ ROME — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has known as Pope Benedict XVI a “giant of faith and reason” that historical past will always remember.

In an announcement, she praised his lifelong service to the church and skill to “speak to the hearts and minds of people with the spiritual, cultural and intellectual profundity of his magisterium.” She mentioned she provided Pope Francis her personal private condolences, and people of the federal government, in sharing “his pain and that of the entire ecclesial community.” ___ BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is paying tribute to the German-born Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as a “formative figure of the Catholic Church.” Benedict, the previous Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, turned the primary German pope in centuries when he was elected in 2005. Scholz mentioned on Twitter Saturday that “as the German’ pope, Benedict XVI was a special church leader for many, not just in this country.” He mentioned that “the world is losing a formative figure of the Catholic Church, a combative personality and a wise theologian.” ___ BERLIN — The governor of Benedict XVI’s native German area says that “we are mourning our Bavarian pope.” Bavarian governor Markus Soeder mentioned on Twitter Saturday that “with him, society is losing a persuasive representative of the Catholic Church and one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century.” Soeder wrote that “many people in his homeland will remember him not just as pope, but also as a humble pastor.” He famous that “at the same time, he also had to face responsibility for difficult phases in his work.” The governor mentioned that “he always carried his homeland in his heart.” The head of the German Bishops’ Conference, Limburg Bishop Georg Baetzing, mentioned that “an impressive theologian and experienced shepherd is leaving us with the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.” “We are mourning a personality who imparted hope and direction to the church even in difficult times,” Baetzing mentioned in an announcement. He voiced “great respect” for Benedict’s “courageous decision” to resign a decade in the past.

___ VATICAN CITY — The Vatican says Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has died. He was 95.

Benedict was the primary pope in 600 years to resign. Benedict had change into more and more frail throughout his virtually 10 years of retirement. Benedict’s dramatic determination in 2013 to resign paved the way in which for the conclave that elected Pope Francis. The two popes then lived side-by-side within the Vatican gardens in an unprecedented association that set the stage for future “popes emeritus” to do the identical.

The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger by no means wished to be pope. But he was compelled to comply with in St. John Paul II’s footsteps, operating the church throughout a interval of scandal and indifference.(AP) RDT

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