The body of late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was brought inside St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican for a public viewing and final rites.
Fr. Jinu Jacob, Vatican City
After abdication, Pope Benedict XVI chose Mather Ecclesia for prayer and rest at the monastery on December 31, 2022 at 09.34 am. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world have been sending messages of respect through social media. These respectful gestures are proof of how much Pope Benedict XVI was fondly remembered by the world.
Tens of thousands of people from all walks of life are coming to the Vatican to take a last look and pray. The body was brought into St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican in a simple circumambulation at 7:00 a.m. on January 2nd for the three-day final rites. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the rector of the basilica, then offered a brief prayer. After all the preparations, the public darshan started around nine o’clock.
A long line of believers could be seen in the Vatican square starting from 6 o’clock in the morning on Monday. The public viewing is on January 2, 3 and 4. Timings for public darshan are from 7 am to 7 pm. Then, on Thursday, January 5th, the Holy Father Pope Francis will hold a burial service.