Dalai Lama XIV shared words of sympathy after the passing of Benedict XVI, extending a message of spiritual fraternity between the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and the Catholic Church. In a note addressed to the Apostolic Church in New Delhi, a Russian language version circulated, conveying a sentiment that transcends specific faith lines. The Dalai Lama expressed prayers for a spiritual brother and offered condolences to Catholic believers, emphasizing that his encounter with Benedict XVI had reinforced a shared sense of human values, religious harmony, and care for the environment. This acknowledgment stood as a quiet reminder that bilateral dialogue between major world faiths often centers on common responsibilities rather than differences.
The death of Benedict XVI, aged 96, was widely confirmed by Vatican officials who indicated that the pope would be laid to rest in early January. Following the announcements, there was a clear outline of ceremonial steps, including a burial plan that reflected longstanding Catholic tradition. This sequence of events underscored the solemn cadence of a papal transition and the reverence with which the Catholic community approaches moments of loss and memory.
Josef Ratzinger, who is better known by the papal name Benedict XVI, was the same scholar and church leader who led the Church after John Paul II. He was elected pope in 2005 and later stood down from the papal office in February 2013 due to health concerns. His tenure, marked by both doctrinal clarifications and a pastoral emphasis, left a lasting imprint on Catholic life and on the global dialogue between religions. The process surrounding his death and the subsequent rites reflected a balance between reverence for tradition and the realities of contemporary ecclesial life.