VATICAN CIT – The physique of former Pope Benedict XVI, who died on Saturday, will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday and stay there for 3 days earlier than his funeral, which is about for Jan. 5.
Here are the preliminary particulars of the ceremonies, as outlined in a Vatican assertion.
Lying in state
Until early Monday morning, former Pope Benedict’s physique will stay within the small monastery inside the Vatican the place he lived. No official visits to see his physique, or public prayers, can be held throughout this time.
On Monday it is going to be moved to St. Peter’s Basilica, the place the general public can view the physique from 9 a.m. (0800 GMT) to 7 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Jan. 2, 3 and 4.
Funeral
Former Pope Benedict’s funeral can be held on Thursday, Jan. 5 in St. Peter’s Square, in entrance of the basilica. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. (0830 GMT) and can be presided over by Pope Francis.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni mentioned that following the desires of former Pope Benedict, the funeral could be easy, solemn and sober.
Papal funerals usually draw heads of state from all over the world, however the Vatican has mentioned that official delegations will come solely from Italy and from former Pope Benedict’s native Germany, suggesting the occasion can be comparatively low key.
Representatives from different nations or organizations can attend in a personal capability, diplomats had been advised.
Burial
The Vatican mentioned that after the ceremony, former Pope Benedict’s physique can be taken again inside St. Peter’s Basilica and buried within the Vatican Grottoes, beneath the church, the place greater than 90 popes have discovered their closing resting place.
In 2020, former Pope Benedict’s licensed biographer, Peter Seewald, was quoted as telling Bavarian newspaper Passauer Neue Presse that the emeritus pope had ready a non secular testomony stating that he wished to be buried in the identical crypt the place John Paul II was initially laid to relaxation in 2005.
John Paul’s physique was later moved following his beatification in 2011 to a chapel on the principle stage of the basilica subsequent to the one the place Michelangelo’s Pieta is displayed. —Reuters
