‘Benedict, most gentle of men’

On Saturday night in San Fernando, he urged believers to pray for God’s guidance in the election of a new pontiff.

Harris, together with the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, were the chief celebrants at Our Lady of Perpetual Help RC Church, Harris Promenade.

The special mass was held to give thanks for the pontificate of Benedict XVI and to seek God’s guidance for the cardinals who will proceed into Conclave for the election of the new Pope. Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation took effect on February 28, after he announced publicly in Rome on February 11, that he was stepping down as pope.

Benedict XVI takes on the title of Pope Emeritus of the Catholic Church and is expected to move into the newly-renovated Mater Ecclesiae monastery for his retirement.

Addressing the congregation, Harris recalled several personal experiences he had with the retired Pope, saying that in 2005, a number of priests and bishops were wary of the election of then Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, who had developed a formidable reputation while serving as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

According to online report posted by Wilkipidia, Ratzinger was listed as having defended and reaffirmed the Catholic doctrine, especially in the field of teaching on topics such as birth control, homosexuality and inter-religious dialogue.

Harris recalled that when he had journeyed to Rome last year to receive the pallium (an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church), the Pope had asked him which region he was representing. Harris said Benedict XVI’s eyes seemed to have glowed, when he answered, “Trinidad.”

The Pope asked for the people of this country to pray for him, Harris said. Harris said the Pope’s reaction was similar when, in a private audience, he introduced his brother to the Pope. “His eyes had once again lit up,” Harris said. “Pope Benedict is the most gentle of men, full of love in his heart.”

The Archbishop urged the congregation to pray that the Holy Spirit would lead the Conclave of Cardinals to choose a person in the “ways of true and authentic discipleship.”

In his homily, Archbishop Girasoli, who is the representative from Rome based in Trinidad, said he too was surprised when the Pope’s resignation was announced.

“When the Pope announced his resignation, we were all surprised because this was something unexpected in the history of the Catholic Church. But it was the supreme gesture of love by Pope Benedict. He is recognised because of his strength, but he could not continue in the ministry thrust upon him,” Girasoli said.

“Our Pope has given us a great example of which to follow. We all know the Church is not ours, we know the Church belongs to God and the Pope knew very well that we are all servants of the Church,” he added.

Girasoli urged the congregation to pray continuously for the Conclave for when the time comes for the retreat to elect a new pope.

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