During Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Francis again recalled, as he did during last night’s Te Deum and this morning’s Mass, his late predecessor, Benedict XVI. On Saturday, shortly after the death of Benedict XVI, the pope traveled to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery to pray over his body, which now rests in the monastery chapel. His body will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica tomorrow morning allowing veneration by 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 Mother of God. At this time, let us invoke her intercession, especially for the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who left this world yesterday morning. Let us all 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 pain for the death of his predecessor Benedict XVI, but also his gratitude for the one he described, as in last night’s Te Deum, “a gift for the Church and the world”. Benedict, “the good grandfather”, the “father” and the “brother”, as he had called him during these years of pontificate, died yesterday morning at the age of 95.
The Vatican Press Office has released images of the Pope Emeritus’ body resting 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 had chosen as his home after leaving the Petrine ministry in 2013.
Visit of Pope Francis yesterday to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery
On Saturday morning, Pope Francis visited the monastery a few minutes after 9:34 a.m., the time of the death of Benedict XVI, the director of the Holy See’s Press Office, Matteo Bruni, confirmed today. He explained that immediately after being briefed by the special secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the pope drove to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery around 10 a.m. He had also gone there last Wednesday, December 28, immediately after having mentioned the worsening state of health of the pope emeritus, asking “a special prayer” for him.
The body of the pope emeritus in the Mater Ecclesiae chapel
The body lying at rest in the chapel of the monastery
As those who assisted him in his final moments recall, Benedict died “with great serenity. Pope Francis was the first to visit Benedict XVI afterwards. The pope prayed beside the body, which now rests resting in the chapel of the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery next to a large crucifix, a nativity scene and a Christmas tree.The remains of the pope emeritus are dressed in red liturgical vestments with a mitre, but without the pallium.
Meanwhile, private visits from cardinals and people closely linked to the pope emeritus began today. Beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday and for three days until the funeral on Thursday, January 5, the body will be laid out in St. Peter’s Basilica for the veneration of the faithful. Matteo Bruni also reported that there will be a private rite tomorrow morning for the transfer of the body of the pope emeritus to the church with a passage through the prayer door of the basilica. Video footage will be shown at the end of the rite. The faithful will be able to pay their respects from 9 a.m.
Applause in St. Peter’s Square
Pope Francis remembered his predecessor at New Year’s Day Mass in St Petersburg. St. Peter’s Basilica, entrusting him to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. During the Angelus, where nearly 40,000 faithful and visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square, he asked them to pray, united, for the soul of Benedict XVI. These words were followed by applause from those present in the square, where flags of Germany, birthplace of the pope emeritus, were seen, as well as banners bearing the name of Benedict XVI.
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