“We have just lost one of the great luminaries of the Church,” Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon said of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Saturday, December 31.
He, passed away at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.
Buzon said “he was a sure guide to us at a time when the world is steeped in darkness and confusion. More importantly, he guided us with his humble leadership and shining holiness of life.”
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said “Pope Benedict XVI, more than any other pope, has taught and encouraged us to cherish and protect the environment. In fact, he has earned the unique distinction of being called ‘the green pope’.”
“We are forever grateful for the gift of Pope Benedict XVI to the Church and the World,” Alminaza said.*