Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's last words before his death revealed that he expressed his undying love for the Lord, said his longtime secretary on Sunday.
A German prelate who lived in the Vatican monastery where Benedict took up residence after his retirement in 2013, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, said that the nurse who helped take care of the 95-year-old religious man recounted hearing the former pope utter the words at roughly 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, hours before he passed.
Pope Benedict XVI's Last Words
Gaenswein said that speaking in Italian, Benedict XVI spoke with a faint voice and in a very distinct way, speaking the words, "Lord, I love you." He added that the words were uttered at a time when the aides tending to the former pope were changing shifts.
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The body of former Pope Benedict XVI is displayed at the Vatican on Sunday, January 1. Benedict's wake will be held from January 2 to 4, followed by his funeral and burial on January 5. 📷 Vatican Media via Reuters https://t.co/sIQXrPSdaQ pic.twitter.com/rem84TjxA4
The archbishop said that he was not present at the time that Benedict spoke those words but added that a nurse recounted the moment. They were known to be the former pope's last comprehensible words because he was unable to express himself afterward any longer, as per US News.
The Vatican previously said that Pope Francis went to pay his respects immediately after he was called by Gaenswein to notify him about Benedict's death. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that Francis also stayed in his predecessor's monastery for quite some time before returning to his residence in a hotel that was located across the Vatican Gardens.
On Sunday, during New Year's Day remarks, Francis prayed for Benedict's passage to heaven and expressed his gratitude for his predecessor's lifetime of service to the Catholic church. Francis briefly departed from reading his homily during a morning Mass at St. Peter's Basilica to pray aloud for the deceased pope.
According to CNN, the 95-year-old's spiritual testament which was published following his death said that he was asking for forgiveness for those that he has "wronged." Benedict was the first pontiff in almost six centuries to resign his position instead of holding office while he was alive.
Fight Against Priests' Abuse
The testament consisted of a letter that contained the pope's final words where he spoke of the "many reasons" that he had to be thankful for his life. The letter, which was dated Aug. 29, 2006, noted that Benedict thanked God for guiding him "well" throughout his life and expressed his gratitude to his parents who gave him life despite living during a difficult time.
Benedict also thanked his sister for her "selfless" help and his brother for the "clarity of judgment" that he shared with him. The former pope was known to be a more conservative individual than Pope Francis, who has moved to soften the Vatican's position on abortion and homosexuality.
The former pope was credited with having been one of the 20th century's most prolific Catholic theologians and was a teacher-pope who preached the faith via volumes of books, sermons, and speeches.
While he was cardinal and pope, Benedict pushed through revolutionary changes to church law that made it easier to defrock predator priests, who he sacked hundreds of during his time. He was also the first pontiff to meet with abuse survivors, the Associated Press reported.
