Preparing the funeral of an expat, a first for the Vatican authorities

When a pope dies, the Vatican applies the usual protocol for his funeral and succession, but the disappearance of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who retired nearly a decade ago, would be a first for Vatican authorities.

Usually, the death of the supreme pontiff prompts a quick conclave, in which the cardinals choose his successor.

Scenario that must be excluded if Benedict XVIGiven that francisco this happened in 2013. So, which protocol should you use?

The Vatican authorities have been working on this issue since the sudden deterioration in the last days of the health of Joseph Ratzinger, the first pope to retire in six centuries.

However, they do this in secret and do not reveal their intentions.

Funeral

According to the apostolic constitution promulgated in 1996 by John Paul II, the pope must be buried between four and six days after his death.

The calendar is usually determined by the cardinals who come from all over the world for the occasion. They also observe “novemdials”, that is, nine days of mourning in honor of the late pope.

Traditionally, it is the cardinals from which the future pope is chosen who are in the maneuvering due to the power vacuum created by the death of the pontiff, but this will not happen, since the pope francisco holds the post.

In 2005, the body of John Paul II – the last dead pope – was paraded before his solemn funeral in St. Peter’s Square, in the presence of numerous heads of state and government, kings and queens.

The ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, then head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who was later elected by his peers to the throne of Saint Peter.

The funeral of the charismatic Polish pope was attended by a million people.

Like an ex dad Benedict XVI He should also have a funeral in St. Peter’s Square, unless he specifically indicated.

Although his popularity has never matched that of John Paul II, the German pope, head of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013, is a former head of state and his funeral should therefore draw a crowd of dignitaries and faithful.

grave

His official biographer, German journalist Peter Seewald, said in 2020 that he wanted to be buried in the tomb of John Paul II, in the crypt of St. Peter.

This tomb has been empty since John Paul II’s coffin was moved to the side chapel on the occasion of his beatification in 2011.

According to Monsignor Claudio Magnoli, a Vatican expert on liturgy, “the rite prescribed for the funeral of popes will be observed, since Ratzinger was a pope.”

“The essential difference is that they could be led by the incumbent pope, that is, (Argentine Pope Jorge) Bergoglio, while until now this role corresponded to the dean of cardinals or another cardinal,” he said. AFP.

Whichever option is chosen, the last word will be francisco.

When a Pope dies, his papal ring, made especially for each new Pope and previously used as a seal for documents, is also destroyed.

When Benedict XVI the papal coat of arms on his ring was crossed out with an “X” after his resignation to render it unusable.

(According to AFP)

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Fernando Carvallo selects information and shares his vision of national and international news. sign to our Las cosas newsletter, as they should be reading your daily columns.