Pope marks 28th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's death

Published: 2006-08-07

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI marked the 28th anniversary of the death of Pope Paul VI, calling him a gift of God to the Catholic Church. Addressing visitors at his summer villa in Castel Gandolfo Aug. 6, Pope Benedict said some of the townspeople present probably had wanted to pray the midday Angelus with Pope Paul on the same date in 1978. But the ailing Pope Paul could not join his guests and died a few hours later, Pope Benedict said. "We remember him on this anniversary with hearts grateful to God, who gave him as a gift to the church in the very important years of the (Second Vatican) Council and following the council," the pope said. Pope Paul, elected to succeed Pope John XXIII in 1963, presided over the last sessions of the Second Vatican Council. He died Aug. 6, 1978, at Castel Gandolfo.

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