Pope Francis prayed for his predecessor’s passage to heaven and once more expressed thanks for a lifetime of service to the church, throughout a New 12 months’s Day apparition a day after Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died in retirement on the Vatican.
Saint Peter’s Basilica, the place Francis presided over New 12 months’s morning mass, will host Benedict’s coffin from Monday. Hundreds of worshipers are anticipated to show up on the coffin in three days of viewing.
Benedict, 95, died Saturday morning within the Vatican monastery the place he had lived since retirement. He was the primary pope in centuries to resign, citing his rising fragility.
On Sunday, Benedict’s physique lay on burgundy-colored paint within the chapel of the monastery. He was wearing a miter, the headdress of a bishop, and a purple cloak-like garment. A rosary was positioned in his hand.
Francis seemed drained and sat along with his head bowed as mass started on the primary day of the yr, an event the Catholic Church dedicates to the theme of peace.
He left briefly from studying his homily, with its emphasis on hope and peace, to hope aloud for Benedict.
“At this time we entrust to our Holy Mom our beloved retired Pope Benedict XVI, in order that she might accompany him in his passage from this world to God,” he stated.
Later, Francis made extra remarks concerning the retired pope when he supplied New 12 months’s greetings to 1000’s gathered in St. Peter’s Sq..
Referring to Mary, Francis stated that “in these hours, we invoke her intercession, particularly for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who, yesterday morning, left this world”.
“Let’s unite everybody, with one coronary heart and one soul, thanking God for the present of this trustworthy servant of the Gospel and of the Church”, stated Francis, talking from a window of the Apostolic Palace to pilgrims and vacationers. under
The sq. would be the setting for Benedict’s funeral led by Francis on Thursday morning. That ritual will likely be easy, the Vatican stated, in step with the needs of Benedict, who for many years as a German cardinal served because the Church’s guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy earlier than he was elected pope in 2005.
In recent times, Francis has hailed Benedict’s gorgeous determination to develop into the primary pope to resign in 600 years and made it clear that he would contemplate such a step a alternative for himself.
Hobbled by knee ache, Francis, 86, arrived on the basilica on Sunday in a wheelchair, earlier than taking his place in a chair for the Mass, which was celebrated by the Vatican’s secretary of state.
Francis, who has repeatedly condemned the battle in Ukraine and its devastation, remembered those that are victims of battle, spending the year-end holidays in darkness, chilly and concern.
Francis cites “insupportable” battle in Ukraine
“Originally of this yr, we’d like hope, simply because the Earth wants rain,” Francis stated in his homily.
Addressing the trustworthy in Saint Peter’s Sq., Francis cited the “insupportable” battle in Ukraine, which started in February of final yr with the assaults and invasion of Russia, and battle in different components of the world.
Nonetheless, Francis stated, “let’s not lose hope” that peace will prevail. “In the entire world, in all peoples, there’s a cry, ‘no to battle, no to rearmament’ however [may] the assets go to improvement, well being, meals, training, work.”
Benedict XVI, who led the Roman Catholic Church via a interval of transformation, controversy and scandal earlier than turning into the primary pontiff in 600 years to resign, has died. He was 95.