Pope: Let us all unite in gratitude for this faithful servant of the Gospel

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In Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Francis recalled again, as he did in yesterday evening’s Te Deum and this morning’s Mass, his late predecessor, Benedict XVI. On Saturday, shortly after Benedict’s death, the Pope went to the convent of Mother Church to pray over his body, which now rests in the abbey church. His body will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica tomorrow morning, allowing the faithful to venerate.

Written by Salvatore Cernozio 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 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who left this world yesterday morning. Let us all unite, with one heart and one soul, in Thank God for the gift of this faithful servant of the Gospel and the Church.”

Pope Francis offered these words of affection and sorrow for the death of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, but also of gratitude for whom he described, as in the Te Deum yesterday evening, as “a gift to the Church and the world”. Benedict, “good grandfather”, “father” and “brother”, as he was called during these years of his pontificate, passed away yesterday morning at the age of 95.

The Vatican Information Office published photos of the body of the Pope Emeritus lying in the chapel of the Monastery of the Mother of the Church, located in the Vatican Gardens a few steps from the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, which Benedict XVI chose as his. Al-Watan after stepping down from the Botrosian ministry in 2013.

Pope Francis’ visit yesterday to the monastery of the mother church

Matteo Bruni, director of the press office of the Holy See, confirmed today, Saturday, that Pope Francis went to the monastery a few minutes after 9.34 am, the hour of death of Benedict XVI. He explained that, upon being informed by his private secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, the Pope went to the Abbey Mater Church at about ten o’clock in the morning. He also made a visit there last Wednesday, 28 December, immediately after he had spoken of the deteriorating health of the Pope Emeritus, and asked for “special prayers” for him.

The body of Pope Emeritus in the Chapel Mater of the Church

The body lies in the monastery chapel

As those who helped him in his final moments recall, Benedict “died very quietly. Pope Francis was the first to visit Benedict XVI afterwards. The Pope prayed beside the body, which now lies in repose in the chapel of the Mother Church. The cloister is next to a large crucifix, nativity, and tree.” Christmas, and Pope Emeritus remains in red liturgical vestments with Meteor, but without vanguard.

Meanwhile, private visits by cardinals and persons closely associated with the Pope Emeritus began today. Beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday and for three days until the funeral service on Thursday, January 5, the body will be laid to rest in St. Peter’s Basilica for veneration by the faithful. Matteo Bruni also reported that there will be a special ritual tomorrow morning to transfer the body of the Pope Emeritus to the church with a passage through the prayer door in the church. Video footage will be broadcast at the end of the ritual. The faithful will be able to pay their respects starting at 9 am.

Applause in Saint Peter’s Square

Pope Francis recalled his predecessor at the New Year’s Day Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, entrusting him to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. At the Angelus, as nearly 40,000 faithful and visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square, he asked them to pray in unity for the soul of Benedict XVI. These words were followed by applause from those present in the square, where flags from Germany, the Pope’s emeritus birthplace, were seen, as well as some banners with the name “Benedict XVI”.

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