A sitting pope will preside over his predecessor's funeral next week for the first time in modern history, with Pope Francis leading a "simple" ceremony for Benedict XVI, who died Saturday.
The first pope to step down since the Middle Ages was Benedict, who gave up the papal throne but continued to live in the Vatican and wear white.
The 95-year-old would have a "solemn but simple" funeral on Thursday, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told journalists at a briefing following his death.
The sudden deterioration of the ex-pope's health earlier this week had sparked questions over what would happen next.
The death of a Roman Catholic pope usually sets in motion time-honoured traditions, but would someone who had given up the papacy get papal treatment?
Francis, who was chosen to succeed Benedict in 2013, is still in the position, so there is no need to convene a conclave to elect a new pontiff, unlike when previous popes have passed away.
Under rules set out in 1996, a pope must be buried between four and six days after his death.
How and when he is buried is usually decided by cardinals who gather from around the world, and who also organise the Vatican's nine days of mourning, known as novemdiales.
They decide because the death of a pope traditionally creates a power vacuum at the top of the church.
However, no such vacuum exists in this case, as Francis is in charge.
Last rites
The ex-pope's funeral will take place in St Peter's Square, the vast square in front of the basilica, on Thursday at 9:30am (0830 GMT).
"As the Pope Emeritus wished, the funeral will be simple," Bruni told journalists.
In his first public comments since the death of his predecessor, Francis on Saturday paid tribute to Benedict, calling him "a noble, kind man who was a gift to the Church and the world".
"It is with emotion that we remember his person, so noble, so kind. And we feel in our heart such gratitude, gratitude to God for having gifted him to the Church and the world," Francis said.
No comments:
Post a Comment