Pope Benedict XVI was known as an astute theologian and writer. He was also known as the first German Pope and the first Pope in the 2,000+ year history of the Catholic Church to retire from the papal position. The German pontiff died at age 95 on Saturday in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery after The Vatican revealed that his health had “worsened due to age.”
On the morning of January 5, Pope Francis presided over the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City.
Pope Francis began his homily by quoting Scripture and repeating the final words of Jesus as he hung on the Cross. “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46).
Thousands of pilgrims from around the world streamed into Vatican City to witness the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI and to pay their respects.
People reports:
A crowd of around 50,000 mourners crowded into St Peter’s Square in Rome to witness the funeral, reported the BBC, citing police estimates. Thousands more also gathered to watch the proceedings on large TV screens erected across the Italian capital.
“God’s faithful people, gathered here, now accompanies and entrusts to him the life of the one who was their pastor,” Francis said as he led the mass in a homily Thursday morning after the ceremony started around 9:30 a.m., reported multiple outlets including CNN.
“Like the women at the tomb, we too have come with the fragrance of gratitude and the balm of hope, in order to show him once more the love that is undying,” added Francis. “We want to do this with the same wisdom, tenderness and devotion that he bestowed upon us over the years. Together, we want to say: ‘Father, into your hands we commend his spirit.'”
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