Farewell to Benedict XVI (1927-2022): Today, Thursday (January 5), the funeral of the Pope Emeritus, who died on December 31, 2022, will take place in the Vatican. The ceremony began in the morning: the coffin was brought to St. Peter’s Square by porters. Tens of thousands of Catholics are expected there who want to say goodbye to the deceased.
Both Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (64) and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (66) are traveling from Germany to the funeral service. Also expected are Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, 81, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, 45, as well as Spanish royals Sophia, 84, mother of King Felipe, 54, and Belgium’s King Philippe, 62, and his wife, Queen Mathilde (49). Benedict’s successor, Pope Francis (86), leads the funeral ceremonies on St. Peter’s Square.
Joseph Ratzinger, like Benedict XVI. whose real name was called, was the incumbent Pope from 2005 to 2013. In 2013, he became the first pope since 1294 to resign voluntarily and since then has lived in seclusion in a monastery in the Vatican.
