Pope Francis will preside over the funeral of Benedict XVI next Thursday (5) in St. Peter’s Square, in the Vatican, at 9:30 am (local time), according to the director of the press service of the Holy See this Saturday (31), shortly after the death of the pope emeritus at the age of 95. Benedict XVI’s body will be on display in St. Peter’s Basilica from Monday (2).
According to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, Joseph Ratzinger had received extreme unction – or sacrament of the sick – shortly before his death on Saturday (31), after a sudden deterioration in health in recent days. According to Bruni, Benedict XVI made it his last wish that his funeral be “as simple as possible. Solemn, but sober.”
Furthermore, he explained that, at the time of his death, Benedict XVI was with his faithful secretary, Monsignor George Ganswein, and with the four women of the Memores Domini movement who took care of him for the almost 10 years that he lived in Mater Ecclesiae, in the gardens of the Vatican, as they took turns to never leave him alone.
Catholic leadership also confirmed that Pope Francis’ Te Deum celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica will take place this Saturday at 5 pm (1300 GMT) as originally planned. This will be the first public speech by the sovereign pontiff since the announcement of the death of his predecessor.
Concern over the health of the pope and German theologian arose on Wednesday (28) when his successor, Francis, acknowledged that he was “very ill” and asked “a special prayer” for the faithful who attended the general audience.
Shortly afterwards, Bruni confirmed that Benedict XVI’s situation had worsened “due to his advanced age”.
A day later, the Holy See assured that Benedict XVI “managed to rest well at night, was absolutely lucid and vigilant” and remained in a “stable” condition despite the seriousness.
This situation continued on December 30, when he even managed to attend a mass celebrated in his room.
Benedict XVI had decided to spend these moments in the monastery where he has resided since his historic resignation from the papacy, announced on February 11, 2013 and consummated on the 28th of the same month, for the first time in six centuries, since the time of Gregory XII. AND
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