House adopts resolution condoling with Vatican for death of Pope Benedict

Plenary of the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. Photo by Noel CELIS / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has adopted a resolution sending profound condolences to the Vatican and Pope Francis, after Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away last December 31.

During the session on Tuesday, the House adopted House Resolution No. 688 authored by Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Majority leader and Zamboanga 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, Minority leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelo Libanan, Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and Tingog party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre.

In the resolution, the House leaders highlighted the contributions of the late pope to the Roman Catholic Church, and its huge impact to the Philippines being a predominantly Catholic country.

“For nearly 25 years, then Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was the powerful head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, known as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and considered as one of the greatest theologians of the Catholic Church,” the lawmakers said.

“As Dean of the College of Cardinals, he presided over the deliberations during the vacancy of the Holy See following the death of Pope John Paul 11 on April 2, 2005, and on April 19, 2005, Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was elected the 265th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, choosing the name Benedict XVI, the first German pape of the modem era,” they added.

The lawmakers said that Benedict XVI would have a special place in the Filipinos’ hearts, having been a strong example of a man of faith.

“As a predominantly Catholic country, the Filipinos share in the sorrow of those grieving over the loss of an endeared man of faith, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and he will always be specially remembered as a Pope of Charity, a great theologian, catechist, and musician who gave hope to all those who know his life, his principles and his legacy,” they noted.

A copy of the resolution would be sent to the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Manila.

Benedict XVI died last December 31 at his residence at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican, where he had lived since his resignation from the papacy in 2013.

READ: Former Pope Benedict dies aged 95 

His death overshadowed New Year’s celebrations. While Francis marked the Roman Catholic Church’s traditional World Day of Peace on New Year’s Day, most of the events at St. Peter’s Basilica centered on prayers for Benedict, who died aged 95.

READ: Death of former Pope Benedict overshadows New Year at Vatican 

According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Benedict XVI will always be remembered as the Pope of Charity and as a great theologian of the Roman Catholic Church.

READ: Pope of Charity, great theologian: CBCP remembers Benedict XVI 

JPV