Joseph’s meticulous character Ratzinger it is also reflected in the last wills he left, which will be read after his Death. It is a spiritual legacy addressed to the world and to the Church, in which his theological thought is enclosed. Of course they also found space very practical details, such as where to bury and how to perform the rite, bearing in mind the simplicity and sobriety that marked his entire priestly life. Very little is known about this text and its content, revised in the monastery during these ten years of “retreat” spent entirely on Vatican Hill Mater Ecclesiae which he moved into with his personal secretary after leaving in 2013 Georg Gaesnswein and the lay sisters of the CL branch. The few details were revealed a few years ago by his personal biographer Peter Seewald. The tomb he gives for his body is in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica, in the former burial ground for which it was originally used John Paul II before being moved inside the basilica, in a side chapel next to Michelangelo’s Pietà, near the entrance area.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Ratzinger “very ill”: Benedict XVI. has “breathing problems”. How are you
THE DETAILS OF THE FUNERAL
Apart from the ritual details given by Ratzinger himself, the burial of Emeritus Pope presents a real mystery for liturgists, canons and masters of ceremonies, since it has never been defined in detail. The last burial of a resigning pope must be traced back to the famous Celestine V, consequently Ratzinger’s disappearance is unique and will certainly serve to provide a frame of reference for all other future cases. The first problem that arises is once the death of Benedict XVI, is to determine who will be responsible for the announcement to the world. Current norms state that the death of a pope must be announced by the Cardinal Vicar of the Diocese of Rome, in which case it would be Cardinal Angelo De Donatis. However, the pope emeritus doesn’t technically fall into that case since he resigned. This dilemma remains to be resolved, as well as other details. Who is celebrating the funeral? Will the body be exposed to the believers? How should he be dressed? What kind of burials are granted: solemn and state burials or simple burials? Are the authorities and the diplomatic corps provided for, as was the case with John Paul II, for example?
THE MYSTERY
The applicable rules for the death of a father prescribe that when the exploration of the body is complete, it is dressed in papal robes: the white miter on the head, the red cloak used to celebrate Mass around the body, and the pallium, a strip of white wool with black crosses, a symbol of dignity. The body is then displayed by the faithful for three days in the basilica Saint Peter. It is up to the camerlengo to grant permission to photograph the body for documentation purposes only, provided it is dressed in papal robes. Burial is expected between the fourth and sixth day after death. The remains of the Pope are locked in a triple chest (one made of cypress, one made of lead and one made of walnut) and buried in the Vatican Grottoes. At the same time, the Camerlengo annuls the fishing ring worn by the Pope and the papal seal. During the period of the vacant seat (as the interim government is called) no one can assume the powers of the Pope. Namely, the Code of Canon Law provides that nothing is changed in the government of the universal Church, and recognizes only the Pope has the supreme, full, immediate, and universal power over the Church, a power that comes directly from God.