Yesterday, February 28, 2013, the Archdiocese of Edmonton held an historic Mass of Thanksgiving for the gift and ministry of Pope Benedict XVI. The Mass was presided by the Most Reverend Richard Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). Twenty Bishops from Western and Northern Canada joined the celebration in St. Joseph’s Cathedral Basilica, Edmonton, along with priests from the Archdiocese and the Ukrainian Eparchy of Edmonton. About 1,200 people filled the Cathedral to capacity. In his homily, Archbishop Smith paid tribute to Pope Benedict who he said “was fully dedicated to the truth” and “not afraid to speak it.”

Link to the full text of the homily