Pope Benedict XVI dedicates his life to teaching, Archbishop Mgr Charles Scicluna said in a short message.

The pope emeritus died on Saturday, aged 95.

“In his humility and wisdom, he was a great servant to the people of God,” he said.

His experience at the Vatican Council II opened up his mind and his heart to the great horizons of the Catholic world.

He was an accessible person, quite modest in his traits but with extraordinary depth in his teaching and in his power of synthesis.

The Maltese will remember him for the “great gift” of canonising San Gorg Preca and for his visit to Malta.

He came as a pilgrim of reconciliation at a difficult time for the Church around the world, and left an indelible mark in our hearts, Mgr Scicluna said.