Pope Francis prayed for his predecessor’s passage to heaven during New Year’s Day appearances a day after Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died. St. Peter’s Basilica, where Francis presided over a New Year’s Mass, will host Benedict’s coffin starting Monday.
During New Year’s Day remarks on Sunday, Francis prayed for his predecessor’s passage to heaven and expressed thanks for Benedict’s lifetime of service to the church.
On Sunday, Benedict’s body lay on a burgundy-colored bier in the chapel of the monastery where he had lived during his nearly decade-long retirement. He was dressed in a miter,A rosary was placed in his hand. Behind him, visible in photos released by the Vatican, were the chapel’s altar and a decorated Christmas tree.
The square will be the setting for Benedict’s funeral led by Francis on Thursday morning. The service will be a simple one, the Vatican has said, in keeping with the wishes of Benedict. Before he wasADVERTISEMENT