President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is mourning the death of former Pope Benedict XVI, saying that the country is one in praying for the eternal repose of the ex-pontiff’s soul.
Benedict, 95, passed away on Saturday in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery at the Vatican, according to a spokesman for the Holy See.
READ: Former Pope Benedict dies aged 95
“We are in deep sorrow upon learning of the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI today,” Marcos said in a tweet late Saturday.
He added: “The Philippines is one in offering our prayers for the eternal repose of his soul. We keep his loved ones in our prayers.”
Benedict, who in 2013 became the first pontiff in 600 years to step down, was “very sick” earlier this week, according to his successor Pope Francis.
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