Pope marks New Yr as Vatican prepares to mourn Benedict

VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Francis prayed for his predecessor’s ascension and thanked the church once more for a lifetime of service throughout New Yr’s addresses on the Vatican, a day after the demise of retired Pope Benedict XVI.

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 monastery the place he lived after his retirement. He was in centuries the primary pope resignedciting his rising weak spot.

On Sunday, Benedict’s physique lay on a burgundy coffin within the monastery chapel. He wore a miter, bishop’s headdress, and a costume resembling a crimson cloak. They positioned a rosary in his hand. Behind him, seen in pictures launched by the Vatican, had been the chapel’s altar and embellished Christmas tree.

Francis regarded 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.

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

Francis later made extra allusions to the retired pontiff as he greeted 1000’s gathered in St. Peter’s Sq. for the New Yr.

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 reward of this trustworthy servant of the Gospel and the Church,” Francis mentioned, talking to 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 service will likely be easy, the Vatican mentioned, in accordance with Benedict’s needs. Earlier than he was In 2005 he was elected PopeBenedict was a German cardinal who served because the guardian of the Church’s doctrinal orthodoxy.

Francis went to pay his respects on Saturday shortly after receiving a name from the Rev. Georg Gaenswein, Benedict’s longtime secretary, informing him of the retired pope’s demise. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni mentioned Francis spent a while on the Benedictine monastery earlier than returning to his resort residence throughout from the Vatican Gardens.

Lately, Francis has welcomed Benedict’s beautiful resolution to change into the primary pope in 600 years to resign and made it clear he would take into account such a transfer an choice.

Weakened by knee ache, Francis, 86, arrived on the basilica in a wheelchair on Sunday and took his place in a liturgical chair supplied by the Vatican’s secretary of state.

Francis, who has repeatedly condemned the Ukrainian conflict and its destruction, remembered the victims of the conflict who spent the top of the yr holidays in darkness, chilly and worry.

“At the start of this yr, we’d like hope simply because the Earth wants rain,” Francis mentioned in his homily.

Addressing the trustworthy in St. Peter’s Sq., the Pope referred to the “insufferable” conflict in Ukraine, which started greater than 10 months in the past, and conflicts elsewhere on this planet.

Nonetheless, Francis mentioned, “let’s not lose hope” that peace will prevail.

“Everywhere in the world, amongst all peoples, there’s a cry of ‘Neither conflict, nor rearmament,’ however (let) assets go to growth, well being, meals, schooling, work.”

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Nicole Winfield contributed from the Vatican.

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Extra on the demise of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: https://apnews.com/hub/pope-benedict-xvi

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