Excel "License information for this component not found" error when accessing Word

On Excel for Mac 16.13 via Office 365 subscription, I'm trying to open and read a Word doc to extract Content Control data.

On this line...

Set wdApp = Word.Application

...the following error is thrown:

"License information for this component not found. You do not have an appropriate license to use this functionality in the design environment."

In Tools->References, I have "Microsoft Word 16.0 Object Library" and "Microsoft Office 16.0 Object Library" checked.

Appreciate any insights on how to resolve, thanks.