
Pope Benedict XVI waves as he leaves his final general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Feb. 27. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
The Diocese of Dallas will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Benedict XVI at noon Feb. 28 at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in downtown Dallas. The Mass coincides with the final day of Pope Benedict’s papacy.
All are welcome at the noon Mass to offer prayers for the Holy Father as he retires to a life of prayer.
“This Mass of Thanksgiving will be offered in appreciation of all that Pope Benedict has done for the Church,” said Bishop Kevin J. Farrell, encouraging area Catholics to attend. “He lived a life of faithful service long before he was elected to the Chair of Peter and has shown his great humility and love of the Church by acknowledging that due to his age and health, he no longer believes he can serve as our supreme pontiff.”
Auxiliary Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel will preside at the Mass with several other priests as concelebrants.