The archdiocese of Luanda, in a statement, thanks God for the life and ministry of Benedict XVI and "in communion with the whole Church" invites parishes, houses of formation and religious communities to celebrate the first mass in his memory on Thursday.
According to the note, a solemn archdiocesan celebration will also be held on Friday, which should bring together the dioceses of Luanda, Caxito and Bengo, at the Sagrada Família Church, in Luanda, in suffrage for the soul of pope emeritus Benedict XVI.
“The ecclesiastical province of Luanda, in particular the dioceses of Viana, Caxito and Luanda, will join the Apostolic Nunciature to celebrate a mass on Friday in suffrage for the soul of pope emeritus Benedict XVI”, said the bishop of Caxito , Maurício Camuto, quoted by the Angolan Catholic broadcaster.
Benedict XVI, who died on December 31 of illness and will be buried on Thursday, visited Angola in 2009.
Maurício Camuto, also secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST), recalls that Benedict XVI left “grateful memories and messages that remain current” for meditation and “spiritual enrichment”.
“Then, they will be for us too, not only a moment to express our pain and sadness, our thanksgiving, but also our gratitude to the Lord for having given us this pope and also for having passed through our land, for giving us have visited”, highlighted the Catholic prelate.
A book of condolences for the death of the pope emeritus is open at the Apostolic Nunciature in Luanda.
Benedict XVI, who died aged 95, shook the Church by resigning from the pontificate for health reasons on February 11, 2013, two months before celebrating eight years in office.
Joseph Ratzinger, who was pope between 2005 and 2013, was born in 1927 in Marktl am Inn, in the German diocese of Passau, becoming the first German to head the Catholic Church in many centuries and a representative of the most dogmatic line of the Church.
The sexual abuse of minors by priests and the “Vatileaks”, in which case confidential documents of the pope were revealed, were themes that agitated his pontificate.
Benedict XVI called the abuses a "heinous crime" and apologized to the victims.
Benedict XVI's funeral will take place on Thursday, in St. Peter's Square, in the Vatican, at 9:30 am local time, in a celebration presided over by Pope Francis.
