Today the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. buried: the most important answers After 6 unsuccessful votes: the US House of Representatives has postponed a new vote

Pope Francis and the Vatican already cohabited with his predecessor during Benedict XVI’s lifetime. faced with difficult questions – and now does so after his death. In the finely chiseled Vatican protocol, every detail, no matter how small, is usually weighed and nothing is left to chance.

At the funeral ceremony of the former pope Joseph Ratzinger, those responsible had to break new ground: although there is an age-old protocol for the burial of popes, no sitting pope has ever buried his predecessor.

The central difficulty that arose was the same one that had to be kept in mind during the nine years of the “cohabitation” of the two popes: the predecessor emeritus had to be given the credit due to him without the power of the incumbent to appoint him. touch or even touch. question the pope.

The most important questions and answers about the Requiem for Benedict XVI. in St. Peter’s Square in Rome:

What has happened since the death of Benedict XVI. happened so far?

The pope emeritus died at 9:34 a.m. on New Year’s Eve at the Mater Ecclesiae convent, where he had lived in seclusion since his resignation in February 2013, at the Vatican at the age of 95. Shortly afterwards, his successor, Pope Francis, was the first to rush to his deathbed to pray for the deceased.

First Benedict XVI. Placed in the monastery for two days, on January 2 the body was transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica. The handover took place without great ceremony – this was the second departure from usual protocol in the death of a pope. The first anomaly occurred immediately after his death: the bells of St. Peter’s did not ring. But that was no coincidence: the bells had for Benedict XVI. went on the day of his official abdication, February 28, 2013 – the last day of his pontificate.

What other deviations from the protocol have already taken place or are planned?

The funeral service, which begins in St. Peter’s Square at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, will not differ significantly from those of other popes — except, of course, that the mass will be personally officiated by the incumbent pope, an unprecedented event. A not insignificant deviation, which has also been criticized by individual followers of Benedict, is that only five days elapse between death and burial instead of the usual nine days.

But there are also protocol reasons for this: normally the death of a pope results in a “sedes vacancy”, i.e. a time when the Holy See is orphaned. The shortening of the time between Benedict’s death and burial, and the cancellation of some other processes and rituals, is mainly due to the fact that the Holy See did not become vacant after the death of the pope emeritus. And it also corresponded to the express will of the deceased, who had wished for a simple burial.

Which foreign guests are expected?

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder, among others, come from the German homeland of Joseph Ratzinger. But also Bundestag president Bärbel Bas, Hamburg mayor Peter Tschentscher as president of the Bundesrat and Stephan Harbarth, head of the Federal Constitutional Court, will also be part of the delegation. From the Italian side, President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and numerous other public dignitaries have applied.

The protocol is also deviated from for state guests: because Benedict XVI. No head of state has died (the head of state of Vatican City is the incumbent Pope Francis), today’s celebration – unlike “normal” funeral ceremonies for popes – is not a state funeral. Only German and Italian officials were officially invited to the celebration. All other state guests – there are many – are only present at the celebration in private.

How many believers and pilgrims are expected at the funeral?

The Vatican originally expected 60,000 to 80,000 people in St. Peter’s Square – but the actual number may be much higher. Condolences on the passing of Benedict XVI. The days before was bigger than initially assumed: On Monday, 60,000 people poured into St. Peter’s Basilica to say goodbye to the former pope. The Vatican had counted on half. Benedict XVI. another 55,000 believers and pilgrims the latest reference.

This shows the popularity and respect that Joseph Ratzinger still enjoyed with many people almost a decade after his retirement. Compared to the last death of a pope, that of John Paul II in April 2005, the crowds were limited: Rome was overrun by some three million faithful and pilgrims in the time between his death and his funeral.

When and where will Benedict XVI. to bury?

The former pope will be buried immediately after Mass under the leadership of Pope Francis in the caves of the Vatican, ie in the vast crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica, where most of the popes are buried. Benedict XVI finds his final resting place, as he wished, in the former tomb of John Paul II. Karol Wojtyla’s remains were transferred to a side chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica after his canonization by Francis in 2014. (aargauerzeitung.ch)