Every year, the Pope offers a Mass to remember all the cardinals and bishops who have passed away in the last year. This year, Pope Francis remembered both the more than 100 men who have died and his predecessor, Pope emeritus Benedict XVI.
POPE FRANCIS
I would like to recall the very first words with which Pope Benedict described himself following his election: “a humble laborer in the vineyard of the Lord.” Indeed, Christians, especially the Pope, the Cardinals and the Bishops, are called to be humble laborers, to serve, not to be served and to put the fruits of the Lord’s vineyard before their own. What a fine thing it is to renounce ourselves for the Church of Jesus!
The Mass concluded with a Marian hymn as Pope Francis prayed in front of an image of Our Lady.
In 2022, the Pope presided over this Mass on All Souls Day because the following day on November 3, he began his 4 day trip to the Kingdom of Bahrain—the first time a pope had ever visited the country.
KG
