SW News: "Jesus, I love you" - these were the last words of Pope Benedict XVI before breathing his last at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican on Saturday. This was reported by journalist Elisabetta Pique of La Nación, an Argentine daily. The demise of Pope Benedict XVI was announced yesterday morning by Matteo Bruni, the Vatican Spokesman. The former Pope was 95. According to La Nación, Pope Francis arrived at the monastery immediately after learning about the demise of Pope Emeritus from Archbishop Georg Ganswein, Benedict's private secretary.

Condolence messages are pouring in from across the world for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

US President Joe Biden paid tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, saying he would be “remembered as a renowned theologian, with a lifetime of devotion to the Church, guided by his principles and faith.” “May he continue to be an inspiration to all,” Biden added. The US president recalled the meeting he had with Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 at the Vatican.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom sent a condolence letter to Pope Francis yesterday saying that he received the news of the death of the former Pope “with deep sadness.” “I remember with fondness my meeting with His Holiness during my visit to the Vatican in 2009. His visit to the United Kingdom in 2010 was important in strengthening the relations between the Holy See and the United Kingdom,” King Charles said. He also recalled Benedict XVI’s efforts to “strengthen the relationship between the global Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.”

The funeral of Pope Benedict XVI will take place at the Vatican on Thursday, January 5.