Thousands of mourners gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Thursday to pay their respects to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died Saturday at the age of 95. The funeral was led by Pope Francis, who made history by presiding over the funeral of his predecessor.
The ceremony began with the tolling of bells and the coffin of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI being placed at St. Peter’s Square. Pope Francis then began the funeral mass, which was in line with Benedict’s wishes to keep the ceremony “simple.” During the mass, Benedict was named pope emeritus and Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, Benedict’s longtime secretary, bent down and kissed a book of the Gospels that was left open on the coffin.
This is the first time in modern times that a pope has presided over the funeral of his predecessor. The language of some prayers was different because Benedict was not the reigning pope.
The funeral was attended by thousands of mourners, including red-robed clergy. It was a rare occasion to witness a living pope presiding over the funeral of a dead one.
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