Pope Benedict’s funeral draws thousands to Vatican

Thousands gather at the Vatican on Thursday for the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVIA staunch conservative with conservative values ​​shocked the Catholic church when he resigned a decade ago.

Black-clad mourners flock to St Peter’s Square ahead of Mass, which begins at 9:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. EST). The event was chaired by Pope Francis, with a living pontiff leading a farewell to his predecessor in an unprecedented event in modern times.

As fog blanketed the top of St. Peter’s Basilica, the ceremony began with Pope Francis’ prayer for the late pope emeritus, and readings were read in Spanish, English and Latin. Hymns sung by the Sistine Chapel Choir include Psalm 23 and Hallelujah.

Pope Francis honored Benedict during his homily but did not address his specific legacy and only called him by name once, on the last line.

“The faithful of God, gathered here, now accompany and entrust to Him the life of their shepherd. Like the women at the tomb, we too have come with fragrance. of gratitude and the balm of hope, to show Him anew His undying love We want to do this with the same wisdom, tenderness and devotion that He has given us in the past years. last year,” Pope Francis said in his homily.

Prayers are also spoken in German, French, Arabic, Portuguese and Italian.

Pope Francis placed his hand on Benedict’s cypress sarcophagus as it was carried into St Peter’s Basilica, before placing his hand on his chest and bowing to the late pope. The coffin was led out of the square to applause and cheers from the crowd.

Benedict, who died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 95, shocked the Catholic church when he retired in 2013, becoming the first pope to do so in 600 years. That decision will shape his legacy, as well as the sex abuse scandal that has plagued the church in recent years.

In 2013, he ceded the papacy to Francis, considered by many to be a more reformist leader, and spent his last years at the Vatican in a renovated convent.

Because Benedict was no longer head of state when he died, only two countries, Italy and Germany, his home country, sent official delegations to the funeral. But other world leaders and royals attended in private.

Strict security measures were put in place at the Holy See to ensure the safety of the event, with more than 1,000 Italian security personnel deployed and its airspace closed for the day. Among the prominent clergy attending the funeral was Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, his secretary said. Zen, a 90-year-old retired bishop, has deeply disagreed with Francis over the Vatican’s agreement with Chinese authorities on bishop appointments.

Nearly 200,000 people visited the pope’s body as it was laid to rest at St Peter’s Basilica from Monday to Wednesday night.

The pope’s body was placed in a plain wooden coffin. After the burial, the coffin was brought back inside the basilica and coated with zinc before being sealed in a second wooden coffin.

At his request, Benedict will be buried in the underground caves of the Vatican in the niche where first Pope John XXIII and then John Paul II are interred before their remains are moved to other places. more prominent in the basilica above.

The Vatican announced that a document written about the pope’s life will be buried with him in his coffin. The document cites his theological and papal legacy, including his outreach to Anglicans and Jews as well as clerical sexual abuse efforts “constantly calling for the church to convert.” , prayer, penance and purification.”

During his general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, Pope Francis praised the late pope emeritus as a “great catechist”, paying special respects to his “deep thought”. color and lightness” of his.

Born in a small Bavarian village, the former pope named Joseph Ratzinger entered the priesthood in 1951 and became head of the Catholic church in 2005.

He was seen by many as an advocate for the church’s conservatives, but his last time as pope was marred by the church’s sex abuse scandal.

He continues to advise privately to his much more liberal successor after stepping down as pope and is the longest-serving pope, having overtaken Pope Leo XIII in September 2020.

His death led to remembrances from all over the world.

President Joe Biden, USA second Roman Catholic presidentsaid in a statement that Benedict “will be remembered as a renowned theologian, whose whole life was devoted to the Church, guided by his principles and faith.”