After the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, doubts have arisen regarding what protocols will be carried out and whether he will receive the treatment of a Pope or a bishop, since he resigned from the position of highest authority in 2013.
This morning the death of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI was reported, who He was elected as the highest authority of the Catholic Church in 2005 and resigned from the position in 2013arguing that due to his advanced age he might not continue his work.
Now and following his death, doubts arise regarding what protocols follow following his death and if he will receive the funeral of a Pope or notsince in his last years he did not serve as such, but remained in the role of bishop.
But When a Pope dies, what are the steps to follow in the Vatican?. According to the media infobaeIn the first instance, those who verify the death are the medical corps of the Holy See. Subsequently and following certifying the death, the doctors notify the prefect and he is the one who officially declares the fact.
After formally pronouncing “the Pope is dead”, by protocol everyone in the Vatican kneels and the responses beginthat is, the last prayers in memory of the deceased.
What happens to the body of a Pope when he dies?
The news of the death of a Pope begins the so-called “watch shift”, where the priests of the Vatican chapter they light candles at the foot of the deathbed and leave a container of holy water next to it to continue responses.
Moments later and still with the body on its deathbed, the cardinal of the Papal Court arrives and is officially assured of the death. There he hits his forehead 3 times with a small silver hammer and when he does not get an answer he pronounces: “vere papa mortuus est” (truly the Pope is dead).
After this, removes the Pope’s ring -symbol of his authority-, which will later be destroyed along with other elements that supported his position. This to avoid future falsifications of papal documents, by protocol.
Of Once the Cardinal’s tasks are finished, the Pope’s viscera are removed and deposited in urns. These will be kept in the underground crypts of the churches of San Vicente and San Anastasio, in Rome.
The procedure occurs while the cardinal of the Papal Court notifies the cardinal vicar of Rome, who will report the news to the rest of the world. This is how they declare 9 days of rigorous mourning in Vatican City and farewell masses are celebrated all over the world.
The Pope has to be buried not before the 4th day nor following the 6th (it will be done on January 5th). Although it is usually the Dean of the College of Cardinals who officiates the funeral (as he did with John Paul II), in this case it will be Francisco who does it. The mourning will last 9 days. pic.twitter.com/ddYi08K2Z9
— Adri ???? (@AdriCaMu8) December 31, 2022
What is a Pope’s funeral like?
Before leaving the body in the Sistine Chapel, for wakes, the Pope is dressed in white and red colors. The latter being the color of papal mourning. There, members of the Vatican and other diplomats honor him.
A day later he is taken to the altar of the Basilica of San Pedro and at the end of the wake period the “obsequies mass” is held.led by the cardinal of the Papal Court and the dean of the College of Cardinals, dressed in red.
Besides, the event is attended by heads of state, presidents and kings and queens of different countries and continents with which the Vatican maintains relations and diplomatic agreements.
At the end of the mass, he is taken to the cypress coffin, in which he is transferred to the grave. While the Vatican choir sings the song “Libera me, Domine, from morte aeterna”which in Spanish translates as “deliver me, Lord, from eternal death.”
The coffin It is deposited where Pope John Paul II was previously -before being canonized- and the cardinal throws the first spoonful of earth while saying: “memento homo quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverseris” (Remember man that you are dust and dust you will become).
The other cardinals of the Vatican present also deposit a portion of land, although without pronouncing the sentence and at the end the tomb is closed and the Pope’s funeral concludes.
For the moment, it is not known if these rituals apply to Benedict XVI, since at the time of his death he was not acting as Pope and this would be an isolated case in the protocols. Everything would be in the hands of the Vatican.
Saint John Paul II remained in the Chair of Saint Peter for 26 years and 5 months, his being the third longest pontificate in history. His funeral was attended by 75 heads of state, including presidents, princes, among others. The population of Rome doubled during that pic.twitter.com/cngjGh9mxw
— THE BRIDE OF CHRIST IS THE HOLY CHURCH OF GOD (@chartreohuse) April 2, 2022