How is the emeritus pope mourned, how and where is he buried? Questions about which there was much speculation before Benedict's death. There are a few answers now.
< p>In 2005, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger presided over the funeral ceremonies for the late Pope John Paul II.
When Pope Francis called for prayers for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on December 28th. asked and mentioned how ill his predecessor was, Vatican observers around the world began to wonder: what happens now? A question that has become acute and urgent with the death of the former Pope. Benedict XVI died at 9:34 am on New Year's Eve at the age of 95.
Along with the news of the death, the Vatican announced that the body would be laid out in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on January 2. Believers can then say goodbye. A funeral service will be celebrated on January 5th at 9.30 am in St. Peter's Square. The incumbent Pope Francis will conduct the Mass – an unprecedented event in the two thousand year history of the Catholic Church, which came about through the historic resignation of Benedict in 2013.
The protocol is breaking new ground
“This is a completely new situation,” Ulrich Nersinger, a German journalist and author of several books on the Vatican and its history, told DW. Even for people “who know their way around” a lot is speculative about what will happen after Benedict's death.
In 2005, John Paul II was the last pope to be buried. The papal chair is then empty and the cardinals lead the funeral service
The Vatican protocol, which for thousands of years has stipulated what has to happen in the event of a pope's death and which has been continuously refined, is breaking new ground. It has been several centuries since a Pope retired before his death and before Benedict XVI. there was no pope who remained in the Vatican after his resignation. This is unprecedented in Church history.
Funeral as Bishop of Rome
The church historian Alberto Melloni is of the opinion that the burial of Benedict XVI. will be relatively simple, at least formally. “The funeral of a pope emeritus is the funeral of the bishop emeritus of Rome,” he told the AP news agency, adding that dioceses around the world have long decided how to honor retired bishops.
The funeral service is to take place on St. Peter's Square on January 5
“One thing we can say is that it won't happen like it did with a deceased incumbent pope,” says Vatican expert Ulrich Nersinger. These include certain ancient rituals, such as the official proclamation of death, the sealing of the Pope's rooms, and the destruction of his signet ring. It is made individually for each pope and taken off his finger after death to break it.
It's all in the details
Benedict's signet ring was made unusable with an “X” after his resignation. “Certain details are very important,” explains Nersinger. “When a deceased pope is laid out, he is dressed in papal robes and the papal pallium – and I don't think he is granted that,” said Nersinger.
Benedict XVI always wore red shoes with his white robe. Francis broke with this tradition
The nine-day period of mourning, known as the Novendiale, is also different. Usually, after the death of a pope, the cardinals organize the funeral ceremonies. They are “a kind of preparation for the conclave [when a new pope is elected], and we won't have that,” says Nersinger. “I know that the papal masters of ceremonies have tried to develop plans, but much will depend on what Benedict himself laid out in his will”.
A wish for the burial
Benedict's official biographer Peter Seewald told the Passauer Neue Presse in 2020 that the retired pope had written a will to be published after his death. In it, Benedict is said to express his wish to be buried in the same crypt where his predecessor John Paul II was originally laid to rest. After his beatification in 2011, the remains of the Polish pope were moved to a chapel in the right aisle of St. Peter's Basilica.
Close confidants: Pope John Paul II and then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in the Vatican in 2003
The Vatican grottoes consist of several large underground rooms with more than 160 papal tombs. It will be exciting to see which political dignitaries will come to the funeral – including from Germany. The developments surrounding decades of abuse scandals in the Catholic Church weigh heavily on the life and work of the former pope. This could cause some politicians not to travel to Rome.
Different Characters
How the mourning and the funeral will go will also depend on the successor. “Pope Francis is a very spontaneous person,” says Nersinger. He could say and do something new shortly beforehand. The relationship between the current Pope and the ex-Pope, who has lived in close proximity to the Vatican for the past nine years, has itself been the subject of much speculation (as well as an Oscar-nominated film).
Anthony Hopkins (r) as Pope Benedict and Jonathan Pryce as Pope Francis in a scene from the film “The Two Popes”
Benedict has often emphasized his obedience and “deep communion and friendship” with his successor, and Francis has referred to Benedict as his “brother”. Despite this, there are known differences between the two men. “They are very different characters, from very different cultural backgrounds, and they have different theological points of view,” says Ulrich Nersinger.
“They met from time to time. When Francis appointed new cardinals, he visited Benedict often with the new cardinal.” However, he does not believe that the two popes sat together to “chat about theology”.
He remained the “Holy Father”
There was constant speculation as to whether certain decisions that Benedict had made for his retirement could have strained the relationship between the two popes. He famously continued to wear the papal white robes, retained the title of Pope (albeit with the addition “emeritus”), and retained the papal manner of addressing “Holy Father”.
Benedict XVI. and Pope Francis in August 2022. They lived in the immediate vicinity in the Vatican for nine years
“These are points that have created a lot of dissatisfaction and confused some followers,” Nersinger said. “But I don't think Benedikt was aware of the negative consequences that would have.” There were also many people who tried to play the two popes off against each other.
Is Francis retiring too?
Also the fact that Benedict is more formal by nature and during of his papacy has made far fewer political statements has created some tension. “Personally, I think his retirement wasn't well done,” said Nersinger. “If you take such a step, you must retire completely.”
Some church observers believe Benedict's resignation has set a precedent for Francis to follow. The incumbent Pope is now 86 years old and has health problems. Vatican expert Ulrich Nersinger disagrees and justifies this with the tensions that Francis experienced. “I also think he enjoys being Pope too much to just retire.”