Pictures: Funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Tens of thousands of mourners, including world leaders and top church figures, gathered in St Peter’s Square, Vatican City, on Thursday morning to mourn the passing of Pope Benedict XVI.
After a three-day period of being in state for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the funeral will be held on January 31st. The former Pope, who was the first to step down from the Catholic Church’s top in 2013 and the first time in 600 years, decided to retire to a monastery within the Vatican.
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN – JANUARY 05: Clerics attend the funeral mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s square on January 5, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
The funeral itself, which saw a plain cypress wood coffin carried into the square by pallbearers before being taken back inside for internment in the papal crypt, was conducted by a Vatican cardinal and was attended and presided over by Benedict XVI’s successor, Pope Francis, who arrived in a wheelchair.
Others attending the funeral included several European Catholic politicians including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish President Andrzej Duda, and Italy’s Prime minister Giorgia Meloni. European Royals attending included Queen Sofia of Spain and King Philippe of Belgium.
According to the Associated Press, around 100,000 people were expected at the event. They filled the Square and spilled out onto the street that leads to the River Tiber.
The coffin of late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is brought to St. Peter’s Square for a funeral mass at the Vatican, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Benedict died Dec. 31 at 95 in the monastery on Vatican grounds, where he had spent almost all of his decade in retirement. His days were mainly dedicated to prayer and reflection. (Photo by Massimo Vallicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images).
Pope Francis arrives in a wheelchair to preside over the funeral mass of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s square in the Vatican on January 5, 2023. – Pope Francis is presiding on January 5 over the funeral of his predecessor Benedict XVI at the Vatican, an unprecedented event in modern times expected to draw tens of thousands of people. (Photo: Filippo MONTEFORTE/AFP). (Photoby FILIPPO.MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images).
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN – JANUARY 05: A general view during the funeral mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s square on January 5, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican. Former Pope Benedict XVI was the head of the Catholic Church between 19 April 2005 and his resignation on 28 February 2013. He died on 31 December 2022 at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Vatican City. Over 135,000 people paid their tributes on the first two days of the late pontiff’s lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images).
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN – JANUARY 05: A general view during the funeral mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s square on January 5, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican. Former Pope Benedict XVI was the head of the Catholic Church between 19 April 2005 and his resignation on 28 February 2013. He died on 31 December 2022 at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Vatican City. Over 135,000 people paid their tributes on the first two days of the late pontiff’s lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN – JANUARY 05: Pope Francis presides over the funeral mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s square on January 5, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican. Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was a German citizen who was born in Marktl in Bavaria in 1927. He was elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. He served as the head of the Catholic Church and the sovereign over the Vatican City State. His resignation was due to ill-health on February 28, 2013. He succeeded Pope John Paul 2 and was succeeded in his role by the current Pope Francis. He died in Vatican City on 31/12/2022 at 95 years of age at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images).
TOPSHOT – Cardinals and Bishops attend the funeral mass of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s square in the Vatican on January 5, 2023. – Pope Francis is presiding on January 5 over the funeral of his predecessor Benedict XVI at the Vatican, an unprecedented event in modern times expected to draw tens of thousands of people. (Photo: Filippo MONTEFORTE/AFP) (Photo: FILIPPO O MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images
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