Pope Francis leads final mass for former Pope Benedict, the first occasion in modern times a pontiff has presided over his predecessor's funeral
Pope Francis paid tribute to his predecessor former Pope Benedict XVI Thursday, in a funeral at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City marked by pomp and tradition. The funeral marked the first occasion in modern times that a pontiff had presided over the funeral of his predecessor. Benedict, the first pontiff in almost 600 years to resign his position, rather than hold office for life, died aged 95 on December 31 at a monastery in Vatican City.
The cypress coffin will be placed inside a zinc coffin that is soldered and sealed, and subsequently placed inside a wooden coffin, which will be buried. The ceremony is expected to end at around 11:15 a.m. local time . High-profile dignitaries including Queen Sofia of Spain and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are set to attend the funeral, alongside US Ambassador to the Holy See Joe Donelly. He was elected pope in April 2005, following John Paul II’s death.
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