Pope Francis on Wednesday remembered Benedict XVI, who died Saturday at age 95, as “a great teacher of catechesis” and said he had “a sharp and gentle thought” at the start of a general audience at the Vatican.
“Before I begin this catechesis, I would like us to join those who are here beside us [na Basílica de São Pedro] to pay homage to Benedict XVI and I turn my thoughts to him, who was a great master of catechesis,” declared Pope Francis at the beginning of the general audience in Sala Paulo VI, .
“His sharp and gentle thought was not self-referential, but ecclesial, because he always wanted to accompany us in the encounter with Jesus. Jesus, the Crucified Risen, the Living and the Lord, was the goal to which Pope Benedict XVI led us, brought us hand in hand. May he help us to rediscover in Christ the joy of faith and the hope of living,” Francis said.
In the prologue to a book compiling the writings of Benedict XVI, released this Wednesday by the Italian media, Pope Francis wrote: “We sincerely thank God for giving us. Pope Benedict XVI has given us with his word and their testimony taught that through reflection, reflection, study, listening, dialogue and, above all, prayer, it is possible to serve the Church and do good to all humanity”.
Benedict XVI’s funeral will take place in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. local time (8:30 a.m. in Lisbon) and will be presided over by Pope Francis. The funeral of the pope emeritus will be similar to the traditions used in the ceremonies of his predecessors, but with adjustments because he is not a pope in office, the Vatican announced.
The body of Benedict XVI has been lying in a burning chamber in St. Peter’s Basilica since Monday and will leave the temple at 8:50 am local (7:50 am in Lisbon) on Thursday, 40 minutes before the start of the funeral. while the faithful pray the rosary.
After the funeral, Benedict XVI’s triple coffin will be transferred to the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica and, at his wish, buried in the tomb that belonged to John Paul II, which was raised to the surface of the temple in 2011.
Benedict XVI died on December 31 at the age of 95 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican Gardens, where he had lived since 2013. months for celebrating eight years in office.
Joseph Ratzinger, who was Pope between 2005 and 2013, was born in 1927 in Marktl am Inn, in the German Diocese of Passau, becoming the first German to lead the Catholic Church in many centuries and a representative of the Church’s most dogmatic line .
The sexual abuse of minors by priests and the “Vatileaks”, revealing confidential documents belonging to the pope, were issues that stirred his pontificate.
Benedict XVI called the abuse a “heinous crime” and apologized to the victims.
Only the government and presidency delegations of Italy and Germany will officially participate in the ceremony.
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has already confirmed that he will be at the Vatican for the funeral ceremonies of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
Source: DN
