VATICAN CITY — For the first time in modern history, a sitting pope will preside over his predecessor’s funeral next week, with Pope Francis leading a “simple” ceremony for Benedict XVI,
FILE PHOTO: Former pope Benedict is greeted by Pope Francis during a ceremony to mark his 65th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood at the Vatican June 28, 2016. Osservatore Romano/Handout via Reuters
The sudden deterioration of the ex-pope’s health earlier this week had sparked questions over what would happen next. They decide because the death of a pope traditionally creates a power vacuum at the top of the church.The ex-pope’s funeral will take place in St Peter’s Square, the vast square in front of the basilica, on Thursday at 9:30am .Francis had alerted the world to Benedict’s frailness on Wednesday, when he called on the world’s Catholics to pray for him.
That was performed at the end of a mass at his home, in the presence of the Memores Domini, four lay women similar to nuns, who lived with him. In 2005 the body of John Paul II, the last pope to die, also lay in state before a funeral mass in St Peter’s Square presided over by Ratzinger, then a senior cardinal.‘Fisherman’s Ring’
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