Benedict XVI was the 265th Pope of the Church Catholic and seventh sovereign of Vatican City. With the secular name Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, he acceded to the papacy in 2005 after the death of John Paul II and in February 2013. announced his retirement. Benedict XVI’s decision to leave the papacy of Rome is quite a milestone, since he considers himself the only pope to leave office voluntarily. This Saturday, after several “very sick” days receiving medical attention at all times and surrounded by what has been his family for the last decade, he died at the age of 95.

All about the funeral of Benedict XVI

  • Benedict will be buried in a triple coffin: one of cypress wood, embedded in another of lead, in turn embedded in another of varnished elm wood
  • The burning chapel will be installed in the Basilica of San Pedro del January 2 to 4
  • He January 5 at 9:30 Holy Mass is celebrated for the emeritus pope
  • The mass will be officiated by Pope Francis I in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican
  • Benedict XVI asked that his funeral be as simple as possible

Who was Benedict XVI

  • His secular name was Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger.
  • He was born on April 16, 1927 in Marktl (Germany)
  • On April 19, 2005, after the death of John Paul II, he was chosen as pope of Rome
  • He was the 265th pontiff and the seventh sovereign of Vatican City
  • On February 28, 2013, he resigned from the papacy, the first to do so freely and voluntarily.
  • Was the second longest-serving pontiff of history, behind only Agathon, who is believed to have died at the age of 102
  • On December 31, 2022, he passed away at the age of 95.