SW News: A special Mass will be celebrated for the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City on Tuesday, January 10. The bishops of Mexico have asked the faithful to attend the Mass and pray for the late former pontiff.

The invitation was sent on Twitter and it reads, “The Apostolic Nunciature in Mexico and the Conference of the Mexican Episcopate invite you to participate in the Holy Mass for the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the distinguished and national Basilica of Santa María de Guadalupe, January 10 at 11 am.”

The Mexican Episcopal Conference (Spanish: Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano or CEM) released a statement on the demise of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on December 31 stating that the CEM expresses its “deepest condolences at the sad news of the transit of our beloved Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who has been called to the house of the Father to mark his presence.”

“This news has caused a deep shock to the whole Church for the pleasant memory and legacy he has left in his Pontificate as a faithful servant, especially in recent years, who under a humble presence of contemplative prayer of the Mystery, has given strength to Pope Francis to continue the apostolic work at the head of the mission of the Church.”

“As the successor of Peter, the apostle of the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, he steered the boat during his Petrine ministry, allowing us to navigate through a spiritual richness and theological reflection that we must continually take up again to become a source of peace and joy in the face of the trials and sufferings that inevitably form part of our earthly pilgrimage,” the statement said.