Vatican City, Nov 5, 2009 / 09:17 am
This morning, Pope Benedict celebrated a Mass for the souls of the cardinals and bishops who have died over the past year. In his homily, the Holy Father described death as “an enigma charged with anxiety,” and noted the importance of faith, hope and mercy in times “of human sadness and distress.”
The Mass, which is a traditional November occurrence, was concelebrated by members of the College of Cardinals.
Among the many men remembered during the celebration were the following cardinals: Pio Laghi, Stephanos II Ghattas, Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, Paul Joseph Pham Dinh Tung, Umberto Betti, and Jean Margeot, and the American Jesuit Avery Dulles.
The Pope spoke of death as “an enigma charged with anxiety,” acknowledging that separation from loved ones is painful. However, he continued, “the faith sustains us in these moments full of human sadness and distress.” It is from the faith that our “hope of immortality” springs.