In the first two days of the public presentation of Benedict XVI. nearly 135,000 people paid their last respects to the former pope. After counting 65,000 people on the first day, Vatican police said another 70,000 people flocked to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, where Benedict’s body lay in state for three days. Many pilgrims came from different parts of Italy and from different countries.
The pope emeritus was put out until Wednesday night. The funeral celebrated by Pope Francis is scheduled for Thursday, which is estimated to be attended by more than 70,000 people. On Wednesday night, Benedict XVI’s coffin, made of cypress wood, will be inaugurated. closed. Inside are coins minted during his pontificate. The coffin is then placed in a zinc casket and sealed. This will be placed in another wooden coffin and then buried, the Vatican said.
Funeral preparations are in full swing at the Vatican. Kings, nobles, heads of state and clergy from around the world travel to the Pope Emeritus’ funeral. US Ambassador to the Vatican Joe Donnelly will represent the United States at the funeral service, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Austria represented by Fischer
Austria is represented by former Federal President Heinz Fischer. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen has asked Fischer to attend the funeral ceremonies in Rome, the President’s Office said on Tuesday on request. Fischer was during the tenure of Pope Benedict XVI. Federal President and was also in his possession and on an official visit to the Vatican. Benedict’s official papal visit in 2007 also fell during Fischer’s tenure. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Salzburg, Franz Lackner, as President of the Episcopal Conference, and Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl of Graz will attend the funeral as representatives of the Church in Austria.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas and Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder come from Germany to bid farewell to the German Pope. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda are also expected, as well as a delegation from the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople. Hungary is represented by Prime Minister Viktor Orban and President Katalin Novak.
Benedict XVI died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 95. On New Year’s Day, the deceased was laid for the first time in the chapel of the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican before the body was taken to St. Peter’s Basilica in a private ceremony on Monday morning. There, the corpse, dressed in a red and gold robe and a miter with gold edges, was placed on a catafalque in front of the high altar, with Swiss guards standing guard there. (apa)