The bells fold in dioceses of our country while the details of the funeral of the emeritus pope are finalized Benedict XVI. An unprecedented event in which an active pope, Francis Iwill officiate the funeral of the emeritus, who died this Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 95 years.
The Vatican machinery has already been set in motion to outline the details of the farewell to Benedict XVIa goodbye that is already materializing in the Saint Peter’s Square in the Vaticanwhere the faithful gathered this Saturday morning to remember him in prayer.
Last Wednesday it was reported that his health condition was serious. Moreover, as revealed by the Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, the emeritus pope received the sacrament of extreme unction last Wednesday, December 28. Concern for the state of health of the German theologian arose precisely on that day, when his successor, Franciscorecognized that he was “very ill” and asked for “a special prayer” from the faithful who attended his general audience.
Shortly after, the spokesman for the Holy See, Matteo Bruniconfirmed that the situation of Benedict XVI had “aggravated by reason of his advanced age“. A day later, the Holy See He assured that Benedict XVI had “managed to rest well at night, was absolutely lucid and attentive” and remained “stable” despite the gravity.
A situation that continued on December 30, when he was still “stable” and was able to attend a mass celebrated in his room, until this Saturday, the day on which the Vatican Press Office and the Spanish Episcopal Conference have announced his death, later confirmed at a press conference by Bruni.
A historical fact
It was also Bruni who began to give the first details on the farewell to the pope emeritus, whose remains will rest in the Mater Monasterio Ecclesiae until dawn on Monday, January 2, when his remains will be installed in the Clementine Room of Saint Peter’s Basilica. That same day, starting at 09:00, the body will be exposed for the visit of the faithful.
“Once the Roman curia says goodbye, the pope’s coffin is lowered to the Basilica of Saint Peter,” the director of “Religión Digital” explained to laSexta, Jose Manuel Vidal. The expert anticipates that floods of people will pass through there to say goodbye to Benedict XVI.
For its part, the funeral will be held on the fifth day of his death, the Thursday, January 5 at 9:30 a.m. in Saint Peter’s Square. A historical event will be witnessed there: Francisco I will be the first pope to officiate the funeral of one emeritus. This is one of the few but at the same time big differences with the funeral of an active pope.
there will be no conclave, since Ratzinger does not leave any seat vacant. With all this, what will happen next Thursday in Saint Peter’s square It will be something very similar to what happened with the death of John Paul II in 2005. In this case, however, the official invited delegations are those of Germany -the country of origin of Joseph Ratzinger- and Italy, although other leaders could participate in a private capacity.
The Vatican spokesman has also indicated that Benedict XVI requested that his funeral be simple, so it will be a sober but solemn act. After the funeral, Benedict XVI will be buried the same Thursday in the Vatican grottoes.
“According to the authorized biography, he said that he wanted to be buried in the tomb left empty by John Paul II, which is where are all the potatoes -in the catacombs-, when they took him up to the basilica when they made him a saint”, explains Vidal.
Source: Lasexta
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
