Marcos Jr. mourns death of Pope Benedict

 HomePope BenedictMarcos Jr. mourns death of Pope Benedict

"We are in deep sorrow upon learning of the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI today," Marcos said in a statement posted on Twitter.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. stated that the Philippines is united in praying for the everlasting rest of former Pope Benedict XVI's soul as he joined the world at large in mourning his passing.

Marcos Jr.  mourns death of Pope Benedict.

This photograph taken outside The Vatican, on December 31, 2022, shows a picture of the late former Pope Benedict XVI, following the announcement of his death. Former Pope Benedict XVI has died at the age of 95, the Vatican announced on December 31, 2022, almost a decade after he became the first pontiff to resign in six centuries. The German pope emeritus, whose birth name was Joseph Ratzinger, had been living a quiet life in a former convent inside the Vatican grounds since his shock decision to step down in February 2013. AFP PHOTO 

We all pray for his soul's eternal peace on behalf of the Philippines. We pray for his family, too," he continued.

The Vatican confirmed on Saturday that the former pope has passed away at the age of 95, nearly ten years after he became the first pontiff to resign.

Beginning on Monday morning, his body will be on display in the solemn surroundings of Saint Peter's Basilica, letting the faithful to pay their respects.

In this image released on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, by the Vatican Media news service, late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is laid out in state in the chapel of the monastery 'Mater Ecclesiae' where he mostly lived after retiring on Feb. 28, 2013. PHOTO BY VATICAN MEDIA VIA AP

Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013 owing to health issues, although he continued to support Pope Francis' direction of the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.

In 2005, the ex-pope was chosen to succeed the late St. John Paul II as head of the Catholic Church.