04/01/2023 21:30 (act. 04/01/2023 21:30)
Pope Benedict XVI ©APA/AFP
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died on Saturday, will be buried on Thursday. After an estimated 180,000 people made a pilgrimage to the corpse of Joseph Ratzinger laid in St. Peter’s Basilica over the past three days, the current Pope Francis celebrated his predecessor’s funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Square. The funeral ceremony, which will be attended by kings, heads of state and celebrities from around the world, will last more than two hours.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims are expected to attend the ceremony in honor of Joseph Ratzinger, who was pope from 2005 until his spectacular resignation in February 2013. Francis will preside at the funeral mass, but as the 86-year-old still suffers from pain in his knee, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will celebrate the church’s celebration at the altar. However, Francisco will preach. After the service, the coffin is taken to St. Peter’s Basilica. This is then placed in a zinc box, closed to the public, which is finally placed in its future resting place in the grotto of St. Peter’s Basilica.