The funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, to be held next Thursday in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, will follow the same rite as that of a reigning pontiff — as that of St. John Paul II, which was held according to the rite ‘Ordo exequiarum Romani Pontificis’, as established by the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis (1996) –, although with some changes.
«In general terms, the rite respects what is followed at the funeral of a Supreme Pontiff,» said the director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, speaking to journalists on Tuesday, in order to release the details of the libretto of the celebration of the funeral of the Pope Emeritus, released by the Office for Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations.
Thus, he specified that «the basis is the same» although he added that «there are some elements that give originality to the rite» and «other elements that are missing referring to those more specific to a reigning Pope».
For example, he pointed out that Benedict XVI’s funeral will dispense with the prayers of the «final supplications, those of the Church of Rome and the Eastern Churches, which are very specific to the active Pope».
«The reference base is that of the funeral of the Supreme Pontiff, but the text has been elaborated and is the result of several reworkings,» Bruni pointed out, while adding that in the preparation of the libretto for the funeral the Pope’s master of ceremonies, Diego Ravelli, played a fundamental role.
IN THREE FETERALS When the doors of St. Peter’s Basilica, where Benedict XVI’s body is on display, close at 7:00 p.m. this Wednesday, they will begin to prepare the body for burial. His remains will be placed in a coffin that before the burial will be placed in two other coffins, which will contain each other, following the same rite as with an active pope.
In addition, some coins minted during his Pontificate, the Vatican mitre and the ‘rogito’, a document written in Latin about the life of the late Pope, which will be read during the ceremony and placed inside a lead tube, will be placed in the coffin.
According to Italian media, before closing it, his face will be covered with a white silk veil, as was done at the funeral of St. John Paul II in 2005. On that occasion the funeral lasted three hours and was presided over by the then Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
Benedict XVI’s funeral, presided over by Pope Francis, will take place on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square and is expected to be attended by about 65,000 people, according to the latest data from the Prefecture of Rome.
The ceremony will be «solemn, but sober», as confirmed by the Vatican in respect of the will of the late Pope Emeritus, and only the government and presidential delegations of Italy and Germany will officially attend.
Representing Germany, Ratzinger’s native country, will be the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the President of that country, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and on behalf of Italy, President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
From Spain, Queen Sofía, the Minister of the Presidency, Félix Bolaños, and the Spanish ambassador to the Holy See, Isabel Celaá, will attend the funeral, sources from Moncloa have confirmed to Europa Press. At least half a dozen Spanish bishops will also attend.
Benedict XVI will be buried without wearing the pallium, which will be placed in the coffin, as is done for bishops emeritus, according to Italian media reports.
According to the press office of the Holy See, 600 journalists from all over the world have been accredited to follow the funeral of Benedict XVI.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
