Pope Benedict XVI was laid to rest Thursday, January 5, 2023 in Vatican City. For the first time in the history of the Catholic Church, a reigning Pope, Francis, presided over the funeral of Benedict, his predecessor with whom he shared the title for the past decade. Pope Benedict passed away on New Year's Eve at the age of 95. He was the first pope in 600 years to resign from his position. Since stepping down as the head of the Catholic church and sovereign of Vatican City in February 2013, he retained the title of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and the white garb for his retirement in a Vatican monastery. Therefore, his funeral was carried out under the same guidelines as an active Pope, as mentioned in the "Funeral Rites of the Roman Pontiff," Royal Central reported.
Benedict XVI, pictured in 2010. (photo: L'Osservatore Romano / Vatican Media)
Pope Emeritus's historic funeral was a mix of ancient rituals and new precedents. "In Benedict's case there is no vacant seat, which is why all the cardinals are not necessarily summoned to Rome," Spanish Vatican member José Manuel Vidal told EuroNews. "There is no meeting of cardinals, there is no conclave and, therefore, the one presiding over the funeral is the reigning Pope."
Pope Francis paid tribute to Pope Emeritus, and at the end of the ceremony, he placed his hand on the casket as a final goodbye. The burial of Benedict under St Peter's Basilica followed the ritual of the three coffins. Under this tradition, the first was a cypress wood coffin that carried a copy of the funeral mass and bags of gold, silver, and copper coins. Each of the bags carried coins matching the number of years that Benedict was Pope. The cypress wood symbolizes humility and highlights the fact that the Pope was a regular person. The coffin was then put into another casket made of zinc. This coffin included a copy of documents he issued as head of the papal church, carrying his papal seal. It was then soldered shut with his name, dates of the papacy, and a skull with crossbones engraved on top.
While some reports suggested the third and final outer coffin was made of oak, Royal Central stated it was made of elm wood, which is significantly rare in Rome. Elm is used for symbolizing dignity. Meanwhile, after the three coffins were sealed, two violet silk robes are wrapped around them, along with the chamberlain and the Cardinal Dean's coats of arms.
AFP - 05 January 2023
ON THE BURIAL OF A POPE.
The Pope must be buried within the 4th-6th day after his death. For example, Pope Benedict XVI died on 31st December 2022, and his burial is January 5th, six days after his death. Usually, in the first three to five days, the body of the Pope is kept inside the Clementine chapel inside St. Peter’s Basilica for people to view.
Officials preparing the casket of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Peter's Basilica in The Vatican | Photo: AFP
On the 4th-6th days, the Papal funeral takes place at the main altar or outside St Peter’s square. Before the mass, the Pope's body is placed inside three consecutive coffins: Cypress Coffin, Lead (Zinc) Coffin, and Elm Coffin.
WHY ARE THE POPES BURIED IN THREE COFFINS?
Part of the ritual of burying a Pope includes the ritual of three coffins:
1. The first is a Cypress Wood coffin which symbolizes Humility and that the Pope was an ordinary human being. Included in the coffin will be a copy of the funeral mass and bags of gold, silver, and copper coins. The number of coins in each bag matches the number of years he was Pope; it's very significant.
2. Lead Coffin: The first cypress coffin is then put into a lead coffin. Included in this coffin is a copy of documents he issued under his papal seal. The lead coffin will be soldered shut and have his name, dates of the papacy, and a skull and crossbones engraved on top.
3. The third and final coffin is an Elm coffin(oak): Elm is rare in Rome and is meant to represent Dignity. This coffin includes a parchment in a copper tube with a list of the Pontiff’s achievements. This coffin is then sealed with golden nails.
When each coffin is sealed, it is wrapped with two violet silk ropes. Then it is sealed with wax and the coat of arms of the chamberlain and the Cardinal Dean.
The coffin of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is carried into St. Peter's Square prior to his funeral Mass on Jan. 5, 2023. (photo: Daniel Ibañez/CNA / EWTN
WHY ARE POPES BURIED WITH RED CHASUBLES?
The red Chasuble, a liturgical color that symbolizes a willingness to shed one's blood for the faith, is the color vestments popes traditionally are buried in.
Popes are buried under the Basilica. There are about 91 popes buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, including the beloved John Paul II who was buried there in 2005. As you walk around the church, you will see some of the most monumental ones in the various niches along the corridors. As time passed, it has been impossible to house all of the popes above ground, so they began housing them below ground in what is called Papal tombs or crypts.
Benedict XVI will be buried in the Vatican Grottoes, underneath St. Peter’s Basilica, the traditional resting place of popes, in the place where his predecessor was buried before being moved for beautification. While each pontiff has had his style, red shoes are a papal tradition that goes back centuries; red shoes are as ancient as the Church. Many Popes were even buried with red shoes: Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II, etc. Pope Benedict XVI stepped away from his red shoes the moment he resigned from the papacy and won't be buried with the red shoes.
Far from a fashion statement, in the Catholic faith, red symbolizes martyrdom and the Passion of Christ. Red symbolized both the worldly authority of the pope and the Passion of Christ. It also symbolized the Pope’s submission to Christ, the love of God for humanity, and the remembrance of all the martyrs who gave their lives for Christ.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE POPE'S RING (FISHER MAN'S RING) AT DEATH?
According to Vatican tradition, the pope's ring is a sign of Authority and each pope has a ring made in the specification for him. This ring plays a critical role in the running of the Church as signet rings are used by popes to put their official wax seals on documents. So that's why the ring has to be destroyed immediately after a pope's death by the Carmelengo in front of the Cardinals; so that no one can use his ring to establish the authority of the Vatican after his death.
However, when Benedict XVI stepped down as pope, his ring was marked with a cross so it can be kept intact, rather than being destroyed. However, on March 6, 2013, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told reporters that this "destruction" had been completed, although he explained that the ring is not smashed or destroyed completely; rather, two deep cuts are made in its face so that it can no longer be used as a seal." This is so because such marks would invalidate the seal on the ring. But why not destroy it completely like others? Is it because he only resigned? Would it be destroyed completely now that Benedict XVI is dead?
WHO ASSUMES AUTHORITY WHEN A POPE DIES?
The Camerlengo or Chamberlain (The Vatican Secretary of State) assumes the Papal authority till a new Pope is elected. He also organizes the election of the new Pope. He summons all the cardinals of the world to Rome for a new Pope to be elected. In the case of the late Pope Benedict XVI, such is not obtainable since he is an emeritus with the incumbent alive and mourning; the papacy remains intact.
WHO CELEBRATES THE MASS FOR A POPE'S BURIAL?
Usually, it is the Dean of the College of Cardinals who celebrates the funeral if it is the sitting Pope who has passed on. For example, Pope Benedict XVI was the Dean of the College of Cardinals at the demise of Pope John Paul II and so celebrated the funeral. However, the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI makes it a historic (after 600 years) moment for the church, for a sitting pope (Francis) celebrating mass for his predecessor. The last time a Pope celebrated the funeral of his predecessor, as Pope Francis [will], was when Pius VII celebrated the funeral of Pius VI in 1802.