The funeral of former Pope Benedict XVI, who died on Saturday at the age of 95, will take place later this week, but his body was buried on Monday at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Benedict, the first pope in nearly 600 years to abdicate rather than hold the office for life, died suddenly in a monastery in Vatican City, according to a Vatican statement on Dec. 31.
After John Paul II’s death in April 2005, he was elected pope. The Vatican announced that the former pope’s body was transferred from the monastery to St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday morning, where it was laid out for the faithful to pay their respects.
At 8 a.m. ET Monday, 2 p.m. local time, the Vatican reported that about 40,000 visitors had paid their respects to the former pope. Members of the Italian government, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella, paid tribute to Benedict XVI as he lay in state.
Some mourners in line in St. Peter’s Square told CNN they had come to pay their respects to the former pope. Paul, a student from Scotland, explained that they were only there to pray and thank God for Pope Benedict’s life.
“I think the time he spent praying for the church in his retirement has been a huge testimony to all of us,” said another church member, “apart from his theology, which was very essential to the church. “
Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See‘s press service, said Wednesday that Benedict’s funeral would take place at 9:30 a.m. local time on Thursday in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City. Pope Francis will conduct the funeral services.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who was pope from April 2005 to February 2013, has died at the age of 95, the Vatican has confirmed.
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— Catholic Church (@catholicEW) December 31, 2022
At this time, let us invoke the intercession of the Most Holy Mary for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Let us all unite, with one heart and one soul, to give thanks to God for the gift of this faithful servant of the Gospel and of the Church.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 1, 2023
Bruni noted that Benedict’s funeral will be “simple,” as he requested. Francis praised his predecessor during the Angelus prayer on Sunday. This is a special tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who passed away early this morning. As a minister of the gospel, he deserves our highest praise,” he said.
Unlike his predecessor, Pope Francis has taken steps to moderate the Vatican’s stance on abortion and homosexuality and has stepped up action to address the epidemic of sexual abuse that has plagued the Church in recent years and casts a shadow over Benedict’s estate. .
The announcement of his resignation as pope in 2013 due to his “advanced age” shocked Catholic faithful and religious experts around the world. Despite vowing to remain “hidden” from the world in his farewell speech.
The retired pope continued to speak out on religious topics in the years that followed, increasing tensions within the Catholic Church. Political and religious figures such as President Obama, Prime Minister cameronand the Dalai Lama all expressed their condolences on his passing.
