Church bells rang in the Vatican for the former pope as the funeral began, and when the simple wooden coffin arrived in St. Peter’s Square early Thursday morning there was applause among the many present. The ceremony featured readings in German, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese and French. Pope Francis arrived in a wheelchair, as he is struggling with a bad knee.
He prayed for his predecessor’s soul. Benedict’s longtime secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, kissed a book of The Four Gospels that was placed on the coffin. A cardinal ended the ceremony by throwing holy water on the casket.
After the ceremony in St. Peter’s Square, the former pope’s coffin was taken into St. Peter’s Basilica, before he was buried in the crypt under the church, Grotte Vaticane. Pope John Paul II also lay there until he was made a saint.
CROWDED: Many had turned up at Petersplassen. Photo: Rome / ipa-agency.net / PA / NTB
“Instant sainthood”
Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger, died on New Year’s Eve, aged 95. He made history several times in his work: He was the first German pope in 1,000 years when he was elected in 2005, and the first to resign in 600 years in 2013.
Close to 200,000 said goodbye while Benedikt lay on the parade bed. Around 100,000 took part in the ceremony itself, and many were already in place before the funeral began at 9.30. Among them were a long line of believers from Bavaria, where Benedict originally comes from. A band from the fire service in the village of Unterpfaffenhofen played the Bavarian national anthem while the coffin was on its way into St. Peter’s Basilica.
Some of the mourners shouted “Santo subito,” which means “immediate sainthood” in Italian.
Pope Benedict’s coffin is carried out into St. Peter’s Square in St. Peter’s Basilica Photo: Alessandra Tarantino / AP / NTB
Many leaders in place
As Benedict had resigned, he was no longer head of state, but Germany and Italy sent official delegations to the funeral, while other heads of state attended as private individuals. In addition, more than 4,000 clergy were present, including Cardinal Joseph Zen, who is actually in prison in China.
Portugal has declared a national day of mourning on Thursday. In Italy, flags are flying at half-mast, while in Benedict’s homeland Germany, church bells are ringing on the 11th.
It will also be the first time since the 19th century that a living pope presides over a funeral ceremony for another pope. In 1802, Pope Pius VII presided over the funeral ceremony for Pius VI, who died in exile in France.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attended the sermon Photo: Andrew Medichini / AP / NTB
The king offers his condolences
King Harald expresses his deepest condolences to Pope Francis and all Catholics in a condolence posted on the royal house’s websites.
There the king writes that he thinks it was very sad to hear about the previous pope’s passing.
– On behalf of myself and the Norwegian people, I send you my deepest condolences, writes King Harald, who adds that he sympathizes with all Catholics in their grief
