Pope Benedict’s final message
Pope Benedict urges Church to ‘stand firm in the faith’ in final message
Retired Pope Benedict XVI‘s final message to Catholics around the world was: “Stand firm in the faith! Do not let yourselves be confused!”
Less than 10 hours after informing the world that the 95-year-old pope had died Dec. 31, the Vatican press office released his spiritual testament, a statement of faith and of thanksgiving.
Unlike St. John Paul II’s spiritual testament, Pope Benedict’s included no instructions for his funeral or burial and made no mention of what should happen to his belongings.
“To all those whom I have wronged in any way, I ask forgiveness from my heart,” Pope Benedict wrote.