Pope and 50,000 mourners say farewell to Benedict

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Pallbearers transportation  the coffin of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI earlier  Pope Pope Francis (L) for him to wage  his respects astatine  the extremity  of his ceremonial   wide    astatine  St. Peter's quadrate  successful  the Vatican connected  January 5, 2023Image source, Getty Images

Image caption,

Benedict's coffin was carried earlier Pope Francis astatine the extremity of the funeral

By Bethany Bell

BBC News astatine the Vatican

The dome of the Basilica was shrouded successful mist arsenic the cypress-wood coffin containing the assemblage of erstwhile Pope Benedict was brought retired and placed connected the steps facing St Peter's Square.

There was applause from the faithful who had gathered for the funeral.

Pope Francis, who presided implicit the service, was brought retired connected to the dais successful a wheelchair.

Clergy from astir the satellite were determination - cardinals successful reddish vestments, nuns and monks successful their acheronian robes.

Latin chants sung by the Sistine Chapel choir echoed crossed the square. The temper was solemn and subdued.

Daniele, a teacher, who had met the erstwhile pontiff astatine a religion successful Rome, told maine the upwind matched the occasion. "The fog represents the enigma of Pope Benedict, the enigma of decease and life. I consciousness precise blessed and affectional to beryllium successful St Peter's Square."

The pope was "an important dependable successful the church", Daniele said.

During the Mass, concelebrated by cardinals, bishops and priests, Pope Francis spoke of "wisdom, tenderness and devotion that helium bestowed upon america implicit the years".

"Benedict, faithful person of the Bridegroom," helium said referring to Jesus, "may your joyousness beryllium implicit arsenic you perceive his voice, present and forever."

Some 50,000 mourners came to the funeral, according to police. Official delegations were determination from Italy and from erstwhile Pope Benedict's location state of Germany. Other leaders, including the king and queen of Belgium attended successful a backstage capacity.

Benedict's decease brings to an extremity the epoch of a pope and a erstwhile pope surviving broadside by broadside successful the Vatican - an unprecedented concern brought astir by Benedict's resignation astir a decennary ago.

In February 2013, I stood watching successful St Peter's Square arsenic helium flew distant from the Vatican successful a helicopter, astatine the extremity of his pontificate.

The ceremonies surrounding his decease person been simpler than those for a sitting pope.

Over the past fewer days, immoderate 200,000 radical came to the Vatican to wage their respects to the erstwhile pontiff, arsenic helium laic successful authorities successful beforehand of the main altar successful St Peter's Basilica.

Image source, ETTORE FERRARI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Image caption,

An estimated 50,000 pilgrims attended Benedict's funeral

On the time earlier the funeral, I joined the agelong enactment of visitors and mourners queuing to presumption his body. Dressed successful reddish and golden vestments, helium had a rosary clasped successful his white, waxy hands.

There was nary show of accustomed papal regalia similar the metallic staff, a motion that helium was nary longer Pope erstwhile helium died.

But successful enactment with tradition, a pb conduit containing an relationship of Benedict's papacy, arsenic good arsenic different items, including Vatican coins minted during his reign, were placed successful the coffin.

At the extremity of the service, the choir sang "May the angels pb you into paradise." Pope Francis placed his manus connected the woody coffin successful a last prayer, earlier it was carried away, to beryllium sealed and placed successful different coffin of zinc and an outer 1 of wood.

It was buried successful the crypt nether St Peter's Basilica, wherever Pope John Paul II was primitively interred successful 2005 earlier his assemblage was moved up to a chapel, aft his beatification.

While galore starring figures person praised Benedict since his decease - paying tribute to his theological studies - determination has besides been criticism, peculiarly by victims of intersexual maltreatment by Catholic clergy.

The Snap Survivors web said the erstwhile pope "virtually ignored the burning occupation of clergy intersexual maltreatment during his tenure successful office".

"In his much than 25 years arsenic the world's astir influential spiritual figure, Pope Benedict XVI fell abbreviated successful protecting children and adults astir the world."

Image source, Getty Images

In St Peter's Square, feelings astir the erstwhile pope were mixed. Gaia from Sardinia said that portion Benedict had been "a precise bully pope, I similar Pope Francis. I deliberation that he's person to radical successful 2023".

Simona from Monza successful bluish Italy told maine she was acrophobic that Francis mightiness travel Benedict's illustration and retire.

"I'm disquieted that helium is sick," she said. "And I truly bash anticipation that helium inactive has the spot to support the Church agreed and to spell connected and springiness anticipation to this world."

Christopher Lamb, Vatican analogous of the Catholic magazine, said Francis present faced a caller infinitesimal successful his pontificate but helium expected him to proceed his gait of betterment wrong the Church.

"The decease of Benedict does permission it unfastened for Francis to measurement down if helium wishes but I wouldn't stake connected it due to the fact that this Pope truly has a batch to execute successful presumption of reforms."

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