‘During his visit to the United Kingdom in 2010, Pope Benedict used the occasion of his meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to focus on the subject of ecumenism in the context of both greater secularism in wider society and the increasingly multi–faith pattern of belief. For those of us who were present on that occasion in Westminster Abbey, we were fortunate indeed to listen to two European intellectuals and people of deep faith in conversation about the future of European Christianity. It was an unforgettable and encouraging experience.
‘On that occasion, His Holiness Pope Benedict also reflected on the work of the Anglican–Roman Catholic International Commission saying: “Let us entrust the fruits of that work to the Lord of the harvest, confident that he will bless our friendship with further significant growth.”
‘We owe a common debt to him, not least as a Biblical scholar and the unique richness of his exploration of the person of Jesus.
‘In the encyclicals Deus caritas est (God is Love), Spe salvi (In Hope We Were Saved) and Caritas in veritate (Charity in Truth), Pope Benedict examined the themes of God’s love, hope and redemption, and the need for an ethical perspective to achieve the common good in global development. As we look around today’s world, these reflections are perhaps more pertinent than ever, filled with a sense of prescience and still calling for response.
‘Pope Benedict was manifestly a man of deep spiritual insight combined with a capacity for focused and articulate theological expression. During his life, he combined the role of churchman and theologian with energy, leaving as a legacy a substantive body of published work that stands testament to a Christian scholar of great intelligence and learning.
‘His loss will be felt very keenly throughout the Catholic world and my prayers in the coming weeks will be for all who are bereaved and diminished by the passing of a great man and a humble disciple of our common Lord, especially my brothers and sisters in Christ on the island of Ireland.
‘Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.’