A simple but solemn affair.
How many visitors came to Rome to experience something of the funeral of the emeritus pope remained a guess until the last moment. The number of people interested was much less than when Pope John Paul II died. Still, there were many tourists during this holiday time.
In the three days that his body lay in state in St. Peter's Basilica, nearly 200.000 people paid tribute to him. The day of the funeral, thousands of supporters arrived in the Italian city of Rome from about four this morning to set sail for the Vatican City and attend the funeral from a distance. Beforehand, the coffin with his remains was transferred from St. Peter's Basilica to St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.
simple but solemn
It was a simple but solemn affair that concluded around 10.50:800 am after the coffin was carried into St. Peter's Basilica and the faithful gradually left St. Peter's Square. The Vatican is a very busy tourist destination and is a small state in the heart of Rome, Italy and it is surrounded by walls. The papal enclave with only XNUMX inhabitants does not belong to the European Union.
In addition to ecclesiastical delegations from all over the world, heads of state and royal guests were also present. Among those present was President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for Germany. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde traveled from Belgium to Italy. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Italian President Sergio Mattarella also attended the ceremony. Cardinal Eijk was present on behalf of the Netherlands. It is not clear how many believers were gathered on the square.
protocol
A special day in Vatican City. Because Benedict XVI was the first pope in six centuries to abdicate during his lifetime, there was no strict protocol for his funeral as pope emeritus. The former Pope Benedict was interred in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Benedict received papal mantles in his coffin. In addition, coins, medals and a sealed lead tube were placed in his coffin. The tube contains a description of Benedict's pontificate, as all popes receive at their funeral.
That a pope leads the mass is unique, because until now there has never been another pope at the death of the previous one. The Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the head of state of Vatican City. The pope is elected by the College of Cardinals, which consists of senior clergy within the Church, and he serves for life unless he abdicates office. The current pope, Francis, is the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Elected in 2013, he is the first pope from the Americas.
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger
The German Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was elected on April 19, 2005 at the age of just 78 during the conclave held after the death of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. He resigned in 2013 due to health reasons. Since then he has lived in a monastery in Vatican City and rarely appeared in public. On New Year's Eve 2022 at 9.34:95 a.m., Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away at the age of XNUMX.
