At Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Francis again recalled, as he did at last night’s Te Deum and this morning’s Mass, his late predecessor, Benedict XVI. On Saturday, shortly after Benedict XVI’s death, the Pope went to the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery to pray for his body, which now rests in the monastery’s chapel. His body will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica tomorrow morning for the veneration of the faithful.
By Salvatore Cernuzio and Tiziana Campisi
“The beginning of the new year is entrusted to Mary Most Holy, whom we celebrate today as the Mother of God. At this time, let us invoke her intercession, especially for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who left this world yesterday morning. unite, with one heart and one soul, to thank God for the gift of this faithful servant of the Gospel and of the Church”.
Pope Francis offered these words of affection and grief for the death of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, but also of gratitude for the one who, as in last night’s Te Deum, he described as “a gift for the Church and for the world”. . Benedict, “the good grandfather”, the “father” and the “brother”, as he called him during these years of his pontificate, died yesterday morning at the age of 95.
The Vatican Press Office released images of the body of the pope emeritus lying in the chapel of the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, located in the Vatican Gardens, a few steps from the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, which Benedict XVI chose as his home after leaving the ministry. Petrine in 2013.
Visit of Pope Francis yesterday to the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery
On Saturday morning, Pope Francis went to the monastery a few minutes after 9:34 am, the time of death of Benedict XVI, confirmed today the director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni. He explained that, shortly after being informed by the special secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the Pope went to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery by car around 10 am. He had also paid a visit last Wednesday, December 28, shortly after speaking about the worsening state of health of the Pope Emeritus, asking for “a special prayer” for him.
The body of Pope Emeritus in the Mater Ecclesiae chapel
The body lies at rest in the Chapel of the Monastery
As those who attended his final moments recalled, Benedict died “with great serenity. Pope Francis was the first to visit Benedict XVI afterwards. The Pope prayed with the body, which now lies in repose in the chapel of the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery next to a large crucifix, nativity scene and Christmas tree. The mortal remains of the Pope Emeritus are adorned with red liturgical vestments with miter, but without the pallium.
Meanwhile, private visits by cardinals and people close to the Pope Emeritus began today. Starting at 9 am on Monday and for three days until the funeral on Thursday, January 5, the body will be laid in state in St. Peter’s Basilica for the veneration of the faithful. Matteo Bruni also informed that there will be a private rite tomorrow morning for the transfer of the body of the Pope Emeritus to the church through the Basilica’s Door of Prayer. Video footage will be broadcast at the end of the rite. The faithful will be able to pay their respects from 9 am.
Applause in St. Peter’s Square
Pope Francis remembered his predecessor at the New Year’s Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, entrusting him to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. At the Angelus, where some 40,000 faithful and visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square, he asked them to pray together for the soul of Benedict XVI. These words were followed by applause from those present in the Square, where the flags of Germany, the birthplace of the Pope Emeritus, could be seen, as well as some banners with the name “Benedict XVI”.
.
0 Comments