Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will be buried with the papacy’s tale – NBC Chicago

A written account of the historic papacy of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will be placed next to his body in his coffin for burial, the Vatican announced Tuesday as it revealed plans for the first funeral of a pontiff to step down in six centuries.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people streamed through St. Peter’s Basilica to view his body as it lay on display for a second day.

When the viewing concludes on Wednesday evening, a one-page account of Benedict XVI’s nearly eight-year papacy will be placed in a metal cylinder and placed inside the coffin, along with other items, including coins of the Vatican struck during his reign, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

Benedict, 95, died on Saturday after 10 years of an extraordinary papal retreat lived in a monastery in the Vatican Gardens. Pope Francis will celebrate the funeral mass in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday.

Although the Vatican stressed that Benedict wanted “simplicity” to characterize his funeral, Bruni said the liturgy will be “down to the smallest detail that of papal ceremonies…with some original elements.”

After the public hearing ends at 7 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Wednesday, “the coffin will be closed, with a special rite,” Bruni said. Benedict XVI’s body will be placed in a coffin carved from cypress, then placed in a zinc coffin. which will be sealed in a second wooden box.

He will be taken out of the basilica and into the square about 40 minutes before Thursday’s funeral, as crowds gathered for the service recited the rosary for Benedict, who served as pontiff from April 2005 to February 2013.

Vatican security estimated that around 65,000 people marched past the beer on Monday and 70,000 did on Tuesday. Two influential American clergymen, Cardinals Timothy Dolan of New York and Sean Patrick O’Malley of Boston, attended mass in the basilica at an altar just behind the central viewing area on the second day.

Prominent clerics coming for the funeral will include Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, his secretary said. Zen, a 90-year-old retired bishop, is at odds with Francis over the Vatican’s deal with Chinese authorities over the appointment of bishops. Zen argues that the agreement betrays pro-Vatican Catholics in China and clergy who have faced persecution there.

Elevated to the rank of cardinal by Benedict XVI, Zen was arrested last year on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces to endanger China’s national security. Although not charged with the security-related charges, he was fined in November after being found guilty of failing to register a now-defunct fund which sought to help those arrested during protests. pro-democracy in Hong Kong.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was among those at the basilica, whose doors opened before dawn. Like Benedict, Orbán fought for a revival of what European conservatives see as the continent’s Christian roots.

Others paying tribute include Miriam Groppelli, an altar server in her parish in Milan, who was not even born when Benedict was pontiff. The 6-year-old had traveled by train with her father, Giuseppe Groppelli, 40, as well as her grandparents and older siblings.

“I told her her story and she was really excited to come to Rome to say goodbye to her,” the father said. “Benedict was very important for the Church, his speeches were so clear and beautiful. He leaves a great legacy of knowledge.

Former Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, has died aged 95.

Groppelli offered his take on Benedict’s unusual retirement arrangement, which lasted nearly a decade, which saw him live in the monastery in Vatican City where he died. Francis, who was elected in 2013 by other cardinals to succeed him, lived nearby.

“I believe that there is no real war or competition within the Church and between the popes. The church lives and grows every day, also thanks to their words,” he said.

Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, had served for decades in the Vatican as the guardian of the Church’s doctrinal orthodoxy, was known for his theological knowledge as well as his eloquent speeches.

Since Benedict was no longer head of Vatican City State, contrary to protocols for the funerals of popes who died while still reigning, only two countries – Italy and his native Germany – will send official delegations, according to the Vatican.

Instead, politicians and royalty, especially from predominantly Catholic countries, will attend in their private capacity.

With no need to elect a new pope, cardinals traveling from around the world for Benedict XVI’s funeral will not have to stay in Rome for a conclave to choose the next head of the Church. However, Francis will have ample opportunity to speak with these “princes of the Church”, who are his privileged advisers.

The last decade has seen a difficult balance between the presence in the Vatican of a retired pope and a reigning pope.

Now, Francis leads the Church without this presence weighing on his papacy.