Pope Francis mentions Benedict by name only once, in the last line of his homily, saying: 'Benedict, faithful friend of the Bridegroom, (Jesus) may your joy be complete as you hear his voice, now and forever!'
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis presided at the funeral of former Pope Benedict on Thursday, January 5, delivering a homily comparing his predecessor to Jesus before tens of thousands of mourners in St. Peter’s square.
Francis arrived in the square in a wheelchair. Troubled by a bad knee, the pontiff sat in a chair looking down on the coffin, slightly hunched and glum-faced as choirs sung in Latin. Also referring to Benedict during the Mass concelebrated by 125 cardinals, 200 bishops and about 3,700 priests, Francis spoke of “wisdom, tenderness and devotion that he bestowed upon us over the years”.
More than 1,000 Italian security personnel were called up to help safeguard the event, and air space around the tiny Holy See has been closed off for the day. Italy ordered that flags around the country be flown at half staff.People from all over the world, many from Benedict’s native Germany, began arriving the dark of the night to say farewell to Benedict.
The account of his life and papacy, written in Latin, says he “fought with firmness” against sexual abuse by clergy in the Church. Because Benedict was no longer a head of state when he died, only two countries, Italy and his native Germany, sent official delegations on Thursday.
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