After the Vatican announced that retired Pope Benedict XVI died at his residence on Dec. 31, 2022 at the age of 95, Washington area Catholic leaders praised his legacy.

In a statement that morning, Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory said, “The Archdiocese of Washington joins the Church throughout the world in praying for the gentle repose of Benedict XVI asking the Lord to receive him into the peace of God’s Kingdom. He lived a distinguished and generous life in service to Catholicism and humanity. His long life included not only his ecclesial contributions, but his impassioned pleas for world peace, human understanding, and global solidarity. May the Father now embrace this servant and minister of Christ’s Church with mercy and compassion.”

Cardinal Gregory will celebrate a Memorial Mass for retired Pope Benedict on Dec. 31 at 4:30 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

After Pope Benedict XVI died on Dec. 31. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a reflection on the pope emeritus.

 In his reflection, Archbishop Broglio wrote:

 “The passing from this life of Pope emeritus, Benedict XVI, sounds contrasting notes of sorrow and gratitude in my heart.

 “The Church gives thanks for the treasured ministry of Pope Benedict XVI. A superb theologian who lent his talents as a peritus at the Second Vatican Council, he continued throughout his long life to be an effective teacher of the faith. As a priest, university professor and theologian, archbishop, and cardinal, his voice in deepening an authentic understanding led all of us to a more profound love of truth and the mystery of God. It will take many years for us to delve more deeply into the wealth of learning that he has left us.

“Personally, I remember many meetings with him while I served in the Secretariat of State, and I will never forget his greeting to me at the first General Audience I attended some weeks after his election to the Chair of Peter. ‘Ci conosciamo’ (we know each other) were his warm words of welcome as he took my hand between his. 

“We all remember how he shocked the world in 2013 by announcing his plan to resign from his responsibilities as the Bishop of Rome, and in doing so, he continued his teaching about courage, humility, and love for the Church. He recognized the great demands made of him as the chief shepherd of the Universal Church of a billion Catholics worldwide, and his physical limitations for such a monumental task. Even in retirement, retreating to live out a life in quiet prayer and study, he continued to teach us how to be a true disciple of Christ, while still contributing to his legacy.

“Generations will continue to be enriched by his books, discourses, and homilies. They all reveal a depth of learning and reflection that is essential both in our time and in the future. 

“While we grieve that he is no longer with us here, I join Catholics everywhere in offering my profound gratitude to the Lord for the gift of Pope Benedict XVI and his ministry. Together we beg our Lord to grant him eternal rest.”

Reacting to the retired pope’s death, Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge in a statement posted on that diocese’s Facebook page said, “I respectfully ask all in the Diocese of Arlington to unite in prayer as we mourn the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. May we give thanks to God for his example and witness and pray for his eternal peace and happiness.

“Born Joseph Ratzinger, he served the Church faithfully and generously for more than 70 years as a priest, bishop, cardinal and pope. He was an influential figure at the Second Vatican Council and served as one of Pope Saint John Paul II's closest collaborators before being elected pope himself in 2005. A devoted student of the Word of God and steeped in the Church's liturgical and theological tradition, he was able to engage the modern world with intellectual clarity and pastoral charity. The breadth and depth of his teachings have inspired many and are already considered part of the Church's patrimony. May the Lord grant to this good shepherd eternal rest and abundant reward for his labors."

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori in a statement on that archdiocese’s website said: “Early this morning we received word that His Holiness, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, went home to the Father’s house. We give thanks to the Father for the life, witness, and ministry of this ‘humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.’

“Pope Benedict was a man of deep faith and keen intellect who placed his considerable gifts at the service of Christ and his bride the Church. Early in his priesthood this took the form of scholarship and teaching. We are grateful for his contribution to the great work of the Second Vatican Council. He went on to serve as a bishop and later as Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. For eight years the Pope Emeritus served as Supreme Pontiff and since his humble decision to resign from the Petrine ministry, Pope Benedict’s service took the form of a life of prayer for the needs of the Church and especially for our current Holy Father, Pope Francis. Much more will be said about the Pope Emeritus’ life and legacy in the days to come but for now we remember all of the ways he has sought to build up the Body of Christ for which we are ever grateful.

“As we remember Pope Emeritus Benedict’s life and commend his soul to the Lord, I would invite all the lay faithful, religious, and clergy of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to join me for a special Mass for the Deceased on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. Priests throughout the Archdiocese are warmly invited to concelebrate this Mass.

“Finally, in your charity I would ask all the faithful of the Archdiocese to pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict by praying the Rosary or at least offering an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be. May the Master of the Harvest reward this humble worker in his vineyard.”

Dr. Peter Kilpatrick, the president of The Catholic University of America, the only university in the United States to host three popes, including then-Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, wrote to the university community today following the death of the pope emeritus: 

"The world has lost a great spiritual leader with the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Throughout his long life and service to the Catholic Church, Benedict was a scholarly and devoted apostle of Jesus Christ. 

"The Catholic University of America mourns his death along with the Church and so many other people whose lives he touched. We will remember him for his love of education, dedication to teaching, and deep theological insight, which he shared in person at the university when he visited in 2008. At that time, Benedict gave a historic speech at the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center about the value and importance of Catholic education. 

"Known previously as Joseph Ratzinger, Benedict was one of the great fathers of Vatican II and sought through his teaching and writings to educate people how to venerate, read, and understand Holy Scripture – and much of his ministry and pontificate were dedicated to that purpose. He will be remembered as the pope who inspired the faithful’s deeper understanding of the Holy Eucharist as the ‘source and summit’ of the Catholic faith, prompting the renewal of this most holy sacrament as central to the faith, expressing God's infinite love for every man and woman. 

"A lifelong educator, Benedict sought to help the faithful rededicate themselves to worship and to stand in awe of God. At the same time, he also wanted the faithful to understand well the primacy of love (charity) in the life of the Christian and how they could share that love of Christ with others.

"Benedict made a lasting impression upon those in his presence – and those whose lives he touched through his writing and teaching. He will be remembered as a man of great conviction, who loved his Church and gave his life to serving it and all of its people."

In a statement, Msgr. Walter Rossi, the rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, said, “It is always sad when anyone dies, no matter how old or how young. At the passing of Pope Benedict XVI we at Mary’s Shrine are sad because we knew him personally, he came to visit us in 2008. Today we offer prayers for his eternal rest, but also give thanks to God for his 71 years as a priest, his 45 years as a bishop, and his almost eight years as Pope. A life of service to the Church and God’s people. May he rest in peace and Our Lady usher him into the presence of her Son.”