The Jan. 5 funeral Mass for Pope Benedict XVI will be a papal funeral with a few changes to fit with the fact that he was not the reigning pope and has not left behind a “sede vacante.”
Funeral Mass for Pope Benedict XVI will be based on a papal funeral
Photos of the Week: Jan. 3, 2023
In the spotlight: feast of Mary, Mother of God, Christmas in Ukraine, snowstorm’s impact
Thousands pay last respects to Pope Benedict in St. Peter’s Basilica
A quiet hush covered the vast expanse of St. Peter’s Square even though it was filled with thousands of people slowly winding their way around the colonnade into St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their last respects to the late Pope Benedict XVI.
On New Year’s, pope calls for taking the risk of changing the world
The best way to usher in a truly “new” year is to stop waiting for things to get better on their own, and instead recognize what is essential and reach out now to help others, Pope Francis said.
Pope Benedict’s funeral will respect his wishes to be simple
After the funeral Mass, the coffin will be taken to St. Peter’s Basilica and then to the Vatican grotto for burial. It was widely reported before his death that his burial site would be in the chapel where St. John Paul II’s body rested until his beatification in 2011.
Pope Benedict’s spiritual testament: ‘Stand firm in the faith’
“To all those whom I have wronged in any way, I ask forgiveness from my heart,” Pope Benedict wrote.
Pope Benedict’s 2008 U.S. visit a whirlwind with timely, pointed messages
When Pope Benedict came to the United States for a visit to Washington and New York spanning six days in mid-April 2008, some news accounts called the pace of his schedule “grueling.”
Retired Pope Benedict’s funeral scheduled for Jan. 5
The 95-year-old pope’s remains will be in St. Peter’s Basilica beginning the morning of Jan. 2 for people to pay their last respects and offer their prayers. The funeral Mass, presided over by Pope Francis, will be in St. Peter’s Square Jan. 5 starting at 9:30 a.m. Rome time.