Pope Francis will preside Thursday over the funeral of his predecessor Benedict XVI on the Vatican, an unprecedented occasion in fashionable instances anticipated to draw tens of 1000’s of individuals.
Almost a decade after Benedict turned the primary pontiff in six centuries to resign, his successor will lead a requiem mass within the huge St Peter’s Square earlier than his physique is laid within the papal tombs beneath St Peter’s Basilica.
The German emeritus pope was now not a head of state however world leaders together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will attend the funeral, alongside European royals and three,700 clergymen, in accordance to the Vatican.
Benedict, born Joseph Ratzinger, died on Saturday aged 95, bringing an finish to an unprecedented state of affairs of getting two “men in white” — he and Francis — dwelling within the Vatican.
ALSO READ: Pope prays for ‘suffering peoples’ on last day in Gulf
An estimated 195,000 folks have already paid their respects throughout three days of mendacity in state on the basilica, the Vatican mentioned, Benedict’s physique in pink papal robes specified by entrance of the altar.
On Wednesday night, it was transferred right into a cypress coffin for Thursday’s funeral, which begins at 9:30 am (0830 GMT) and which officers anticipate will draw 100,000 folks.
Benedict will then be interred in John Paul II’s former tomb within the Vatican Grottoes, a crypt beneath the basilica holding greater than 90 tombs of popes.
His predecessor’s physique was moved into the principle a part of the basilica on the occasion of his beatification in 2011. John Paul II was made a saint in 2014.
ALSO READ: Dozens of Christian graves vandalised in Jerusalem
Portugal has declared a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday, whereas in Italy, flags can be flown at half-mast on public buildings.
In Germany, church bells will ring out at 11:00 am in reminiscence of the primary German pope in 1,000 years.
Two popes
The 1000’s who queued this week to see Benedict’s physique included a mixture of Catholics and curious vacationers.
“Despite what some people think, for me personally he was a father, in faith and also a model of service, humility and the search for the truth,” mentioned one pilgrim, wine producer Marco Felini.
Benedict was a superb theologian however a divisive determine who alienated many Catholics together with his staunch defence of conservative doctrine on points corresponding to abortion.
ALSO READ: Rome police: South African kicked out of Italy for flying drone close to Vatican
His eight years as head of the worldwide Catholic Church was additionally marked by crises, from in-fighting inside the Vatican to the worldwide scandal of clerical intercourse abuse and its cover-up.
When he stop, Benedict mentioned he longer had the “strength of mind and body” obligatory for the duty, retiring to a quiet life in a monastery within the Vatican gardens.
He and Francis, an Argentine Jesuit, had been mentioned to take to each other, however Benedict’s later interventions meant he stayed a standard-bearer for conservative Catholics who didn’t like his successor’s extra liberal stance.
Francis — who praised the “noble, kind” Benedict after his demise on the monastery — now has the weird expertise of presiding over his funeral.
ALSO READ: Cardinal on trial as Vatican monetary scandal case resumes
The final time a pope presided over the funeral of his predecessor was in 1802, when Pius VII led the ceremony for Pius VI — however the circumstances had been very totally different.
Pius VI died in 1799 in exile, a prisoner of France, and was buried in Valence. His successor had his stays exhumed and introduced again to Italy, earlier than he was handled to a papal funeral at St Peter’s.
Security operation
Around 1,000 police will present safety on the funeral, bolstered by quite a few civilians from Italy’s civil safety service, whereas greater than 1,000 journalists are accredited.
ALSO READ: ‘Penitential journey’: Pope arrives in Canada for particular apology objective
The solely official delegations are from Germany and Italy. Other dignitaries, together with Belgian and Spanish royals, the presidents of Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Slovenia and Togo, and the premiers of the Czech Republic, Gabon and Slovakia amongst others are attending in a private capability.
The service will observe conventional papal funerals, with a couple of modifications to prayers and readings to replicate Benedict’s standing as emeritus pope.
Before being laid within the crypt, his cypress coffin can be positioned first inside a zinc coffin, then a wood case.
As is traditional, cash and medals minted throughout his papacy and a written textual content describing his preach, sealed in a steel cylinder, can be positioned alongside his physique.
By Alice Ritchie © Agence France-Presse
