Supporters of the former Pope Benedict came to say goodbye to St. Peter’s
2023.01.02 04:00
Supporters of the former Pope Benedict came to say goodbye to St. Peter’s
Budrigannews.com – On Monday, a steady stream of people came into St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects to the former Pope Benedict XVI. The former pope’s body will be laid to rest in front of the main altar until his funeral later this week.
Benedict kicked the bucket on Saturday at 95 years old in the segregated Vatican religious community where he had resided since his shock acquiescence in 2013.
His liturgical vestments, which were red and gold, were placed on a plain dais, and two Swiss guards stood on either side as the faithful passed by.
He will lie in state until Wednesday. Pope Francis will officiate at his Thursday funeral, which will be held in St. Peter’s Square. In accordance with his wishes, the Vatican has stated that it will be a straightforward, solemn, and solemn ceremony.
There were no indications of the huge crowds that had gathered to pay their respects to Pope John Paul II, Benedict’s predecessor, after his death in 2005.
Inviting constant comparison in the media and among the Church’s 1.3 billion members, Benedict, a methodical, reserved, and very private German, had a difficult time stepping into the shoes of charismatic John Paul during his eight years as papacy.
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