Pope Francis celebrates New Yr as Vatican prepares to mourn Benedict

Vatican metropolis — Pope Francis prayed for his predecessor’s ascension and thanked the church once more for a lifetime of service in his New Yr’s deal with, a day after Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. died in retirement Within the Vatican.

St. Peter’s Basilica, the place Francis presided over New Yr’s Day Mass, will obtain Benedict’s casket from Monday. 1000’s of worshipers are anticipated to file close to the casket over three days.

Benedict, 95, died Saturday morning within the Vatican, the place he had been residing since retirement. He was the primary pope in centuries to resign, citing his rising weak spot.

Francis seemed drained and sat together with his head bowed as Mass started on the primary day of the yr, an event the Catholic Church dedicates to the theme of peace.

He briefly broke away from studying his homily, emphasizing hope and peace, to wish aloud for Benedict.

“At this time we entrust our Blessed Mom to our beloved Pope Benedict XVI to accompany her in her passage from this world to God,” he mentioned.

Later, Francis made extra allusions to the retired pontiff as he gave New Yr’s greetings to 1000’s gathered in St. Peter’s Sq..

Referring to Mary, Francis mentioned that “in these hours we enchantment to her intercession, notably for Pope Benedict XVI, who left this world yesterday morning.”

“Allow us to all unite collectively, with one coronary heart and one soul, thanking God for the present of this devoted servant of the Gospel and the Church,” Francis mentioned, chatting with pilgrims and vacationers from the window of the Apostolic Palace. under.

The sq. would be the website of Benedict’s funeral, led by Francis, on Thursday morning. The ceremony will likely be easy, the Vatican mentioned, in line with the needs of Benedict, who served for many years as a German cardinal because the guardian of the church’s doctrinal orthodoxy earlier than being elected pope in 2005.

In recent times, Francis has welcomed Benedict’s beautiful determination to turn out to be the primary pope to resign in 600 years and made it clear he would take into account such a transfer an choice.

Weakened by knee ache, Francis, 86, arrived on the basilica on Sunday in a wheelchair earlier than taking his seat within the liturgical chair served by the Vatican’s secretary of state.

Francis, who has repeatedly condemned the Ukrainian battle and its destruction, remembered the victims of the battle who spent the tip of the yr holidays in darkness, chilly and concern.

“At first of this yr, we want hope simply because the Earth wants rain,” Francis mentioned in his homily.

Addressing the devoted in St. Peter’s Sq., Francis cited the “insufferable” battle in Ukraine, which started final February with Russian assaults and invasion, in addition to elsewhere all over the world.

Nonetheless, Francis mentioned, “let’s not lose hope” that peace will prevail. “Everywhere in the world, amongst all peoples, there’s a cry for ‘no battle, no rearmament,’ however (let) assets go to growth, well being, meals, training, work.”