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January 7, 2023By Catherine Buckler, OSV News
WASHINGTON (OSV News) -- In the wake of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's death, the Vatican's apostolic nunciature in Washington offered the public the opportunity to sign a book of condolences with memories, comments and prayers for the former pope Jan. 3 and 4.
Pope Benedict, who headed the Catholic Church from 2005 until he retired in 2013, died Dec. 31 at age 95.
Susana Arissl Ramos-Izquierdo lives near the apostolic nunciature. She decided to visit and write her condolences after hearing about the opportunity at morning Mass at St. Thomas Apostle Church in Washington.
Describing her feelings about the late pope, Ramos-Izquierdo said, "I feel lucky to have grown up in the era of Pope John Paul II. And then Pope Benedict just came and he had huge shoes to fill, lasted a short time … but my mother and many other people I know always quoted him, had great things to say about him."
Ramos-Izquierdo shared the sentiment of her message in the book of condolences. "I want to pray for his soul and also ask him to pray for us," she said.
Mariana Rosales is a minister counselor for public affairs at the Embassy of Costa Rica, whose state religion is Catholicism.
"I think that he had not an easy task, coming after Pope John Paul II. I think that he was a very wise man, like knowing the right time when you have to step down to allow a fresh breath of air, that was incredibly brave on his part," Rosales said. "He definitely had a very strong and firm hand to try to continue with the legacy of a very strong Catholic Church."
Rosales described her note in the book of condolences.
"I wanted to express how much … as Catholics, we understand that he is just returning to the house of the Father and how much we are sure, certain, that his soul will be forever. So I think that's a loss that every Catholic can feel, without a doubt," Rosales told the Catholic Standard, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington.
Another embassy visitor included Ambassador Jasem Albudaiwi, Kuwait’s ambassador to the United States.
"We in Kuwait have a great relationship with the Vatican, we had a great relationship between the emir and the former emirs with all the popes that took the leadership. We feel the loss of this great human being who served humanity and every aspect, we are aware of all his efforts to bring all sorts of religions together and closer to each other," Albudaiwi said.
Kuwait's ambassador added, "We feel the loss for the Catholic people, we pray to God that he is merciful on him (the pope) … and we hope that he rests in peace."
Antoine Rask works in development at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Rask said that Pope Benedict has been "one of the biggest influences" on his life and led to him studying theology at The Catholic University of America.
Due to a passport issue, Rask was not able to attend the pope's funeral in Rome as he had hoped. However, he still hoped to offer his respects locally.
"Every since I was a little child, he was a hero of mine, and while maybe most 11- or 12-year-olds don't really know what's going on, I followed the Benedict papacy and the papacy of our Holy Father Pope Francis from then," Rask said. "I've just read a lot of the works and teachings of Pope Benedict."
Claire Leopold is a student at Clemson University in South Carolina who, like Ramos-Izquierdo, lives in the area of the apostolic nunciature.
"I didn't know this was going on, we were just walking by and it seemed like a great way to honor Pope Benedict," Leopold said. In her message, she wanted to thank the late pope.
"I just remember how much my parents loved him, that's what I remember of him," Leopold said.
Pope Benedict XVI's funeral was celebrated Jan. 5 in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. At 12:10 p.m. Jan. 5, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the U.S., was scheduled to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Life of Pope Benedict XVI at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.