Vatican:

The first words of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger when he was elected pope were recalled by Pope Francis during a special Mass for the repose of cardinals and prelates who passed away after November last year. The Mass was offered at the Altar of the Chair in St Peter’s Basilica on Friday by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. 

During the homily, the Holy Father said, “I like to recall the very first words with which Pope Benedict described himself following his election: ‘a humble laborer in the vineyard of the Lord.’ Benedict XVI, whom we remember today, together with the cardinals and bishops who died in the past year, wrote in his first encyclical that the program of Jesus is ‘a heart that sees.’”

The pope said Christians, especially the pontiff, the cardinals and all prelates, are called to “be humble laborers: to serve, not to be served and to put the fruits of the Lord’s vineyard before their advantage”. He said it was a fine thing to renounce everything for the sake of the Church. Pope Francis also urged all pastors to be humble servants of others.

“How many times did he keep reminding us that faith is not primarily an idea to be understood or a moral precept to be followed but a person to be encountered,” the Holy Father said. “That person is Jesus Christ, whose heart beats with love for us, whose eyes look with pity upon our suffering.”

The Mass was offered for the repose of the souls of six cardinals and 147 bishops and archbishops who passed away after November 2022. This Mass is an annual feature during the week of All Saints and All Souls Days.

The Mass for deceased cardinals and bishops is celebrated every year at the Vatican during the week of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.