German leaders mourn death of former Pope Benedict


Head of the German Bishops' Conference, Bishop Georg Baetzing gives a statement after the death of former Pope Benedict in Limburg, Germany, December 31, 2022. REUTERS/Timm Reichert

LIMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - German politicians and church leaders mourned the death of former Pope Benedict on Saturday, hailing his importance to his homeland as Germany's first pontiff in 1,000 years.

"Today is a day of mourning, of farewell, but for me personally even more one of gratitude and respect for a great man of the Church," said Georg Baetzing, who is bishop of Limburg and head of the German Bishops' Conference.

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