Following the death this morning of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, 95, the first pontiff in 600 years to resign from the job, the archbishop of Mobile issued a statement praising his legacy.

“For more than 60 years Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has had a significant role in the life of the Church,” said Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi, head of the Archdiocese of Mobile.

“Even as a young priest, his brilliant mind was widely recognized, and he was an influential voice as a theologian at the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s,” Rodi said. “He has served the people of the Church as a priest, bishop, and pope. In particular, his eight years as pope have had a major impact in the life of the Church. Most importantly, he was a man of deep faith and his obvious love of Christ showed forth in all he did. May God in his love and mercy now welcome Pope Benedict home.”

Pope Francis will celebrate the funeral Mass of Benedict in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday morning, an unprecedented event in which a current pope will celebrate the funeral of a former one.

Alabama-based EWTN, founded by Mother Angelica and based in Irondale, has announced special programming beginning today on Benedict XVI. EWTN will air the following special programming Saturday, Dec. 31. Further updates can be found on EWTN’s website (www.ewtn.com), the EWTN app, and EWTN’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ewtnonline.

December 31 Specials:

2 p.m. Central: LIVE Holy Hour for Pope Benedict: From Our Lady of the Angels Chapel in Irondale, Alabama.

3 p.m. Central: Special Live Show Tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict with Host Father Mitch Pacwa. Guests include Fr. Joseph Mary, EWTN Vice President of Theology Colin Donovan, Women of Grace Host Johnnette Williams, EWTN News Executive Editor Matthew Bunson, EWTN Rome Bureau Chief Andreas Thonhauser, EWTN Germany Managing Director Martin Rothweiler, and more.

EWTN’s website now includes a special tribute page to Pope Benedict which outlines his many accomplishments. Find it here: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/holysee/popes/benedictxvi.