Pope Benedict's coffin carried into St. Peter's Square for funeral | Inquirer News

Pope Benedict’s coffin carried into St. Peter’s Square for funeral

/ 04:34 PM January 05, 2023

Pope Benedict's coffin

The coffin of former Pope Benedict is carried during his funeral, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, January 5, 2023. REUTERS

VATICAN CITY — To the sound of tolling bells, 12 pallbearers carried the wooden coffin of Pope Benedict out of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday and placed it before thousands of faithful gathered in the square ahead of his funeral.

Applause broke out across the vast, cobbled esplanade, which was shrouded in mist, in a sign of respect for Benedict, a hero to Roman Catholic conservatives who shocked the world by resigning nearly a decade ago.

Article continues after this advertisement

Crowds of people began arriving in the Vatican area as early as 4 a.m. (0300 GMT), five and half hours before the funeral which will be presided over by his successor, Pope Francis.

FEATURED STORIES

The two hour service was preceded by recitations of prayers.

More than 1,000 Italian security personnel were called up to help safeguard the event, and air space around the tiny Holy See has been closed off for the day. Italy ordered that flags around the country be flown at half staff.

Article continues after this advertisement

Among those attending the funeral were Germans in traditional Bavarian outfits carrying flags and standards of the area of Germany where Benedict was born.

Article continues after this advertisement

Benedict, a world renowned theologian, died at 95 on Saturday in a monastery within the Vatican gardens where he moved after becoming the first pontiff in 600 years to stand down, opening the way for the election of Pope Francis, who has proved a more reformist, hands-on leader.

“Even though at our age we were just children when he was pope, he left his mark,” Xavier Mora, 24, a Spaniard who is studying for the priesthood in Rome, told Reuters as he approached the square with two other seminarians.

Article continues after this advertisement

“We have been studying his theology for three years and even though we did not know him personally we have great affection and esteem for him,” he said.

The lying-in-state ended on Wednesday evening and the body was put into a plain cypress wood coffin ready for the funeral. A one-page account of Benedict’s papacy, along with other items, including Vatican coins minted during his reign, were also tucked into the coffin.

The three-page account of his life and papacy, written in Latin, says he “fought with firmness” against sexual abuse by clergy in the Church.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

While many leading figures have praised Benedict since his death, criticism has also been aired, including by victims of clergy sexual abuse, who have accused him of seeking to protect the Church at all costs.

RELATED STORIES

Guide to the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict on Thursday

Benedict XVI: The pope who gave it all up

TAGS: Funeral, Vatican

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.