SW News: The Salesian family expressed sadness over the demise of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who passed away on Saturday in the Vatican at the age of 95. When the news of the passing of the former pontiff was announced, Salesian Rector Major Fr Angel Fernandez Artime issued a statement in which he said, “I say it is sad news because every human loss always leaves a void. But at the same time, his life has been a blessing.”

Fr Artime said in his message that Benedict XVI’s long life in years was a life given to the Lord Jesus in His service to the Gospel and the Church. The rector major paid tribute to the former German pontiff by hailing him as a “great pope, a great believer, a great theologian and thinker, a man capable of establishing bridges of communication with the most diverse philosophers, theologians and intellectuals.”

The rector major also prayed, “May the God of life have him with him. As sons of Don Bosco, and as he taught all the Salesians about him, today we also say, Long live the Pope!”

After Pope Benedict XVI stepped down from the papacy, the then rector major of the Salesians Pascual Chavez had expressed solidarity with him in a message. He then said, "We, the Family of Don Bosco extended throughout the world, are deeply grateful for this courageous act of service of our beloved Holy Father, and we accompany him with our sincere sympathy and devotion and, as he himself asked us, with our constant prayer. Pope Benedict XVI, who has manifested so many acts of kindness and affection towards our family, was a true gift from God for the Church and for the world today ”.

When Fr Artime visited his confreres in Spain in 2016, he sought greater love and recognition for the pope emeritus, saying that they got Pope Francis because they had Pope Benedict XVI before, “who is a man of deep faith, a great theologian”.