A simple wooden coffin housed the body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in a historic funeral mass presided over by Pope Francis.
According to Vatican News, Pope Francis bid his predecessor farewell at the requiem mass, commended him to God the Father, and prayed that his joy may be complete as he contemplates the Lord face-to-face.
Before the requiem mass, there was a recitation of the rosary, a long-standing Catholic tradition.
Pope Benedict died on December 29, 2022, after a long illness. He shocked the world by becoming the first Pope to resign in 600 years.
He made his mark as a traditionalist pope who favored conservative principles for the church.
Troubled by a bad knee, Pope Francis arrived at the ceremony in a wheelchair and praised his predecessor.
“God’s faithful people, gathered here,” said Pope Francis, according to Vatican News, “now accompanies and entrusts to Him the life of the one who was their pastor… We want to do this with the same wisdom, tenderness, and devotion that he bestowed upon us over the years. Together, we want to say: “Father, into your hands, we commend his spirit.”
Pope Benedict was born on April 16, 1927. Before ascending to become Pope, he was known as Cardinal Ratzinger. His birth name was Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger.
He rose to the papacy in 2005 and served until 2013. He succeeded Pope John Paul II as the 265th Pope of the Catholic Church.
He was 95.
See Reuters coverage here.
See Vatican News Coverage here.
Here are some recent photos of the Vatican By Edward Njoroge
