Hesse: bishops pray at the grave of a saint for Benedict XVI.

Fulda (dpa/lhe) - Bishop Michael Gerber of Fulda, his predecessor Heinz Josef Algermissen and auxiliary bishop Karlheinz Diez paid tribute to the late emeritus pope. Gerber and Diez prayed at the grave of Saint Boniface in Fulda Cathedral, where the deceased visited several times as Archbishop of Munich and Freising. Gerber described Benedict as an "observant and vigilant shepherd", Algermissen as a "role model in faith in Jesus Christ" and Dietz as an "impressive theologian". After the news of his death became known, the bells were rung in the diocese of Fulda.