The remains of the emeritus pope already rest in the Vatican grottoes, in what was the tomb of John Paul II. There have been three hours of ceremony, which have been followed by some 50,000 people.
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Euskaraz irakurri: Benedikto XVI.a gorputz eta arima aritu zela nabarmendu du Frantzisko aita santuak
Funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI It began at 9:24 a.m. in Saint Peter’s Square, before some 50,000 faithful (less than expected), presided over by Pope Francis and celebrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re. The ceremony ended three hours later, after 11:30 a.m., when the mortal remains of the pope emeritus have been transferred to the Vatican caves, where they already rest.
In the center of the atrium of the Vatican square, the mortal remains of the pope emeritus, who died last Saturday at the age of 95, have been placed after a procession from inside the basilica and after this Wednesday, at the closing of a burning chapel what almost 200,000 people have visitedwere placed in a coffin made of cypress wood, as required by tradition.
Pope Francis He has arrived minutes before the procession in a wheelchair and has sat in an armchair specially placed for him at the altar.
The mass will be presided over by Francis, but celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, the Italian Giovanni Battista Re, and concelebrated by some 120 cardinals, 400 bishops and 4,000 priests.
The personal secretary of Benedict XVI, Monsignor Georg Ganswein, and the four women from the Memores Domini Institute who have been in charge of him during this time, have followed the rite from the front row, on one side of the main altar.
The scroll placed in the coffin notes that he “fought firmly against abuses”
The parchment written in Latin with the most significant dates in the life of Benedict XVI, inserted in the cypress coffin that contains his mortal remains, and which will be buried in the Vatican grottos, highlights that “he fought firmly against the abuses”.
“He fought firmly against crimes committed by representatives of the clergy against minors or vulnerable people, constantly calling the Church to conversion, prayer, penance and purification,” reads the document that summarizes the life of Joseph Ratzinger, including eight years as reigning pope and ten as pope emeritus.
Strong police device
The Vatican city is armored with security agents and already tonight, an intense movement of faithful, tourists and curious people has been perceived. At 06:00, access to Saint Peter’s Square began to be allowed for the faithful, who slowly and orderly began to take their seats.
To access the Plaza de San Pedro it is necessary pass controls and by a metal detector, and all parked vehicles have been closed to traffic and removed from the streets adjacent to the Vatican.
According to the security plan approved by the Police of the Italian capital, the airspace in the entire area will be closed and helicopters, snipers, special forces, including those to fight terrorism, firefighters, and municipal police have been made available. In total, there are more than 1,000 agents.
Source: Eitb
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