Church mourns loss of former pope, theologian

Faithful Catholics across the world are mourning the loss of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who passed away peacefully the morning of Dec. 31, 2022. 

Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was born April 16, 1927, and held the papacy from April 19, 2005, to April 13, 2013, when he resigned as pontiff. During his life, he authored a large body of work that is still revered by the Church, including on the liturgy.

“He was involved in the Second Vatican Council, a brilliant theologian with a great love for our Lord, who was committed to the orthodox living out of our faith,” said Father Carson Krittenbrink, pastor of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Ponca City and Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Newkirk.

As part of the Second Vatican Council, it was his effort to bring the traditions of the Church into a modern era, to reach out to new generations.

“What stands out to me is Pope Benedict had a vision of the Church that would continue into the future for eternity which was the promise of Jesus itself,” said Father Zachary Boazman, associate director of the Secretariat for Divine Worship, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. “That doesn’t mean the Church had to be stagnant or change with the times. The Second Vatican Council, for him, was the sign of hope and his whole theological program was to bring the Church into the modern age, with the timeless tradition of the Church.”

To honor his memory and legacy, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City sent out communications to all parishes to hold a memorial Mass in his honor, which also included novenas.

“The archdiocese, after hearing the news, came up with a coordinated effort across the archdiocese to bring people to pray for his soul, giving thanks to his ministry,” Father Boazman said. 

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help held a funeral Mass on Jan. 2, and parishes across the archdioceses held their own services.

Ponca City and Newkirk parishioners held a service on Jan. 5 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Newkirk.

“We talked about his life and legacy, his essays, speeches, his books and his calling for universal holiness,” Father Krittenbrink said.

Holy Family Catholic Church in Lawton also held memorials.

“We had vespers for the dead, and the next day, we had a mourning mass,” said Father Phil Seeton, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Lawton. “We had a portrait, and the frame was wrapped with the black crepe.” 

In addition to Vespers Wednesday and the Memorial Mass Thursday, parishioners held a special Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Mass, in what is referred to as a “Panachida.” During the Mass, the names of those who have passed are read aloud, he said. They are celebrated five times per year in what are referred to as "All Souls Saturdays."

“We had people coming from a distance – Tuttle, McLoud, Oklahoma City, and there were some local people as well,” Father Seeton said.

Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and Holy Family Catholic Church are only two examples of the outpouring of prayers that came from the universal Church.

“What’s amazing to me is he had 66 books, 71 years of homilies, enumerable essays, three encyclicals, four exhortations and it all boiled down to the four words at his death: ‘I love you, Jesus,’” Father Krittenbrink said.

Everett Brazil, III is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.


Archbishop Coakley celebrated a Memorial Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Jan. 2 at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Photos Avery Holt/Sooner Catholic.