The Argentine pontiff was unable to celebrate the mass himself – as has often happened recently due to his health problems resulting from a knee condition – but presided over it. Francis reached St. Peter’s Square in a wheelchair, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re took over the celebration at the altar, where Archbishop Georg Gänswein, longtime private secretary of the late Pope, and the nuns who last looked after him were also standing.
“Father, into your hands we commit his spirit,” Pope Francis said at the end of his homily for Benedict XVI. The pope expressed his “gratitude for the wisdom and devotion” of his predecessor. “The faithful people of God gathered here accompanies him who was his shepherd,” the Holy Father continued.
Big crowds early in the morning
Since early Thursday morning, thousands of pilgrims had gathered on the streets in front of St. Peter’s Square in fog to gain access to the funeral mass. Official delegations from Italy and Germany, home of the pope emeritus, flocked to St. Peter’s Square, which was packed early Thursday, before the funeral service began. A Bavarian nun unfurled a banner reading “Santo subito!” (Holy immediately!).
Almost 200,000 people had made a pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica since Monday to pay their last respects to Joseph Ratzinger. The ritual of closing the coffin took place in a small circle in St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday evening. Among others, the ceremonialist, the Archpriest of Saint Peter, several cardinals and the private secretary of the deceased ex-Pope, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, took part. In front of the open coffin, a document (“Rogitum”) was read out in Latin, containing important milestones in the life and work of the deceased.
The last honor for Benedict XVI.
Benedict XVI – whose real name is Joseph Ratzinger, died on December 31 in his Vatican residence Mater Ecclesiae. Benedict XVI had been out of office for almost ten years and had wished for modest celebrations.
Grave goods placed in coffin
This was followed by the covering of Benedict XVI’s face. with a handkerchief, that was done by the private secretary and the master of ceremonies. Then coins and medals from the pontificate years as well as the “Rogitum” to the deceased were placed in the coffin made of cypress wood.
At around 9:00 a.m., the coffin was brought to St. Peter’s Square by twelve bearers. The bell of St. Peter’s Basilica rang. The crowd applauded as the coffin arrived. Around 200 mountain riflemen from 47 companies from Bavaria traveled by bus. Some pilgrims showed a banner with the inscription “Thank you Benedict”. Many flags could be seen.
Unprecedented event for Catholic Church
The event is new ceremonial territory for the Catholic Church, because for the first time in centuries a retired pope was buried and therefore no successor has to be elected. Austria was present at the funeral through former Federal President Heinz Fischer. Fischer was during the tenure of Pope Benedict XVI. Federal President and was also at his inauguration and on an official visit to the Vatican. Benedict’s official papal visit in 2007 also fell during Fischer’s tenure.
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop Franz Lackner from Salzburg as chairman of the bishops’ conference, Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl from Graz and Bishop Ägidius Zsifkovics from Eisenstadt were present at the funeral as representatives of the Church in Austria. The German delegation included President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder. Head of State Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni represented Italy. Also present were Belgium’s King Philippe, Spain’s ex-Queen Sofia and the Hungarian head of state Katalin Novak.
Strict security checks in Rome
The strictest security precautions were taken in Rome for the funeral. As in the past, at the funeral of John Paul II and major canonization ceremonies, more than 1,000 police officers were on duty, according to reports from the Roman prefecture. The number of metal detectors used to control believers entering St. Peter’s Square has been increased. In addition to the staff of the Vatican gendarmerie, plainclothes police officers were also deployed. 500 civil protection volunteers were tasked with providing information on queues and waiting times.
There is also a ban on selling glass bottles in the Vatican area on Thursday. In addition to the monitoring measures, the control of traffic flows was a key element of the organization. Public transport has been ramped up to take crowds of pilgrims to St. Peter’s Square.
