Archbishop Gänswein recounts His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's last words spoken during the night several hours before he died. It was precisely his seeking Jesus, "the beloved", that was the distinguishing hallmark of Joseph Ratzinger's priestly service, as His Holiness Pope Francis himself recalled in 2016.

By Andrea Tornielli

The last words of His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI were heard in the middle of the night by a nurse. It was around 3 in the morning of 31 December 2023, several hours before he died. Joseph Ratzinger had not yet entered his final moments, and at that time his collaborators and assistants were alternating in his care. With him at that precise moment there was only one nurse who does not speak German.

The Coptic Orthodox Church, headed by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, mourns the departure of His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the Former Pope of the Vatican. He departed today, at the age of 95, after he spent his life serving the Roman Catholic Church in various roles. He was the best successor to the best predecessor.

The Coptic Orthodox Church offers its condolences to the brother and friend, His Holiness Pope Francis, and to all the clergy and congregation of the Catholic Church around the world.

Chaldean Patriarchate in Baghdad Media Center

The Chaldean Patriarchate mourns His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and thanks God for all the graces  he bestowed upon the Church and humanity through his services.

The late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, was great man of prayer, humble and close to people during their difficulties. He established through his writings, a firm and important theological bases for faith stability, promoted approach between Churches and religions focusing on the application of scientific thoughts and logic.

JERUSALEM – On January 1st, 2023, His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over the Pontifical Mass dedicated to the World Day of Peace and the Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God. The Mass took place in the Pro-Cathedral of the Patriarchate and was concelebrated by Mgr William Shomali, General Vicar, Mgr Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio to the Holy Land, and Fr. Francesco Patton, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land. 

As the new year 2023 begins, His Holiness Pope Francis sent a special message for the World Day of Peace, inviting all people to pray for peace in the world and to reflect on the importance of building peace. It came in line with the long tradition of messages released by the Pope at the beginning of each year - a tradition that began with St. Paul VI in 1967 and continued with St. John Paul II, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, and His Holiness Pope Francis. 

The 95-year-old Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away on Saturday 31 December 2022, at 9:34 AM, in his residence at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery.

By Vatican News

His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has returned to the Father’s House.

The Holy See Press Office announced that the Pope Emeritus died at 9:34 AM on Saturday morning in his residence at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, which the 95-year-old Pope emeritus had chosen as his residence after resigning from the Petrine ministry in 2013.

A statement released by the Director of the Holy See Press Office says the His holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is in a stable condition.

By Vatican News

Responding to questions put to him by reporters, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said "The Pope Emeritus managed to rest well last night, he is absolutely lucid and alert and today, although his condition remains serious, the situation at the moment is stable.“

Concern for Benedict XVI‘s health was raised on Wednesday when His Holiness Pope Francis concluded the General Audience with an invitation to the faithful to pray for his 95-year-old predecessor who, he said, is very ill.

On December 28, 2022, after the weekly sermon, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, congratulated on the New Year, wishing that the whole world would live in peace and to be a new year with no weaknesses. His Holiness said: “I congratulate you on the beginning of the new year, which will begin in three days. Happy New Year to everyone, to all the countries, to all Churches and services, to all the Officials in our country and to the whole world. We pray that the world may live in peace and to be a year without the weaknesses of the past year. At the same time, you have a chance to meet your father of confession and to repent and to have a pure heart to start the new year with.”

On December 27th, 2022, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Eminence Mgr William Shomali, General Vicar, and His Eminence Mgr Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Bishop Emeritus, and several priests welcomed at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem different religious delegations to exchange Christmas greetings. First came the Greek Orthodox, led by the Patriarch His Beatitude Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, then the Armenians, led by His Eminence Archbishop Sevan Gharibian, Vicar of the Armenian Patriarchate. They were followed by all the other heads of Churches of Jerusalem, who expressed their thanks to His Beatitude Patriarch Pizzaballa and to all for this time of joy and celebration.

His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa Presides Over the Christmas Celebrations for 2022 in Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM – On December 24th and 25th, 2022, local Christians and foreign pilgrims celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, the “bread of life”, by attending celebrations presided over by His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the small town of Bethlehem, the “house of Bread”.

The holy month of December has come to an end, and the long-awaited day has arrived. On December 24th, the entire town of Bethlehem welcomed the Patriarch for his solemn entry into the Basilica of the Nativity, to begin the celebrations for Christmas eve.

“We can truly feel the spirit of Christmas here,” said Leeuw, a 23-year-old Christian from the Netherlands, as he watched the scouts play Christmas melodies with their instruments. “It is nice to see everyone unified and celebrating Christmas in public,” he added. For this year’s celebrations, Bethlehem saw the return of many pilgrims, as travel restrictions due to the pandemic of COVID-19 were put to an end.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II congratulated His Holiness Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II, Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, for Christmas, which falls today according to the Western Calendar.

On the afternoon of Sunday 25 December 2022, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II visited the Patriarchal Residence in Hamzawy, Cairo. A Church delegation was with His Holiness, and was received by His Holiness Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II, the Greek Ambassador and a number of Metropolitans.

On December 25, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the Holy Qurobo on the occasion of Christmas, at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma, Damascus, Syria.

During the Holy Qurobo, His Holiness was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Cyril Babi, Patriarchal Vicar for the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, Mor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for the Affairs of Monks and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary, and Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Damascus Armash Nalbandian, as well as the clergy of the Patriarchate and seminarians of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II congratulated His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, Patriarch of the Coptic Catholics in Egypt and Head of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, for Christmas, that many Churches celebrate on 25 December.

On the morning of Sunday 25 December 2022, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II visited the Coptic Catholic Patriarchal Residence in Kobry el Qubba, Egypt, and with him was a Church delegation, where His Holiness was received by the Patriarch, Metropolitans and priests of the Catholic Church.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Dear Mr. President Mahmoud Abbas, and representatives of the State of Palestine,

Dear Representative of His Majesty, King Abdallah II of Jordan,

Your Excellencies, Consuls General and members of the diplomatic corps,

May the Lord give you peace!

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy.” (Is. 9,2-3).

Once again we meet each other here in Bethlehem, in this Holy Place, to thank, praise and celebrate the wonderful event of the Savior’s birth. Once again, with the prophet Isaiah, we proclaim to the whole world that a great light has appeared before our eyes and that a great joy has filled our hearts, “for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all” (Titus 2:11): Jesus Christ the Redeemer.

On December 21, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, hosted the annual Christmas Retreat for the Clergy in Damascus.

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Beatitude Joseph Absi, Greek-Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and all the East and His Excellency Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus, also participated in the retreat.

The Christian Hierarchs, priests, monks, and nuns participated in the retreat which was held at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma, Syria.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, congratulated the Christian Churches that will celebrate Christmas this Sunday. This was at the start of the weekly meeting of His Holiness on Wednesday 21 December 2022, and H.H. said: I would like to congratulate our Christian brethren from Christian Churches that will celebrate Christ this Sunday, the 25th of December, according to the Western Calendar”. His Holiness Pope Tawadros II then added: “Our Christmas celebration is one celebration all over the world, but the difference between the Eastern and Western Calendars makes a difference of 13 days between them.

 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, extend our greetings to Christians around the world with the same spirit of awe and wonder experienced by those present in Bethlehem at the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As St. John the Evangelist would later proclaim, the birth of Christ was the glorious manifestation of God Incarnate, the Word-Made-Flesh, full of grace and truth. It revealed to humanity the deep and abiding love of God for all his people: that the Almighty would deign to be born among them, both fully human and fully divine.

In this act of compassion, Christ joined in the world’s suffering, enduring with the Holy Family the many struggles of life under occupation. These included threats of violence, forced registration, family displacement, and existence as refugees in a foreign land.

T H E O D O R O S II’

BY THE GRACE OF GOD POPE AND PATRIARCH

OF ALEXANDRIA, THE ENTIRE LAND OF EGYPT AND ALL AFRICA

TO THE PLENITUDE OF

THE APOSTOLIC AND PATRIARCHAL THRONE OF THE

APOSTOLIC AND PATRIARCHAL THRONE OF ALEXANDRIA

GRACE AND MERCY AND PEACE

FROM OUR LORD AND GOD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

BORN IN BETHLEHEM

“Christ is born, glorify Him. Christ from heaven. Let us go to meet Him”

My dear and blessed brothers and sisters,

With these beautiful words, the hymnographer presents the great Mystery of the Lord’s Birth. God the great and incomprehensible becomes a visible and palpable man. Christ descends from heaven and is born on earth.

You can find below the Christmas Message 2022 issued by His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church

By the Mercy of the Almighty God
John X
Patriarch of Antioch and all the East

My brothers, shepherds of the Holy Church of Antioch
My sons and daughters, wherever present in this Holy See,

"Glorify, my soul, the king born in a cave." The hymnologist addresses himself and the soul of each of us in this splendid season, the season of the Nativity of Christ. It is a call to every soul to contemplate the greatness of a Heavenly King who preferred the coldness of the cave to the lavish couches of kings. He is the unique King

“Let Heaven greatly rejoice, let earth make merry;

the Lamb of God is born upon the earth for our sake,

and He granteth the whole world His divine redemption”.

(Sessional Hymn, Christmas Matins)

Today, the human race everywhere rejoices and is glad. The whole creation rejoices. The whole world celebrates, because “the unheard has been heard”, the things hushed up for centuries have been revealed. What are these unheard things, for which “the world that has heard them is dancing?” It is the joyful news that God’s promises have been fulfilled. That the visions of the prophets have been openly revealed, and the expectations of the nations have been fulfilled.