PPope Francis has in his sermon during the funeral mass for Benedict XVI. made little direct reference to its predecessor. The pontiff spoke Thursday primarily about devotion to God and trust in the Lord. Only at the very end did the Argentine say in front of the wooden coffin of the Pope Emeritus: “Benedict, you faithful friend of the bridegroom, may your joy be complete when you hear his voice finally and forever!” In the Catholic Church, Jesus is often referred to as the bridegroom .
Francis emphasized Benedict’s trust in God, his devotion to prayer and his love for the gospel. He also recalled the toils of the papacy, the difficult tasks that “a shepherd” must face – “between crossroads and contradictions,” said Francis, who presided over the funeral service and preached the homily. The Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re because of Francis’ health problems.
130 cardinals and also many politicians
But trust in God produces gentleness, said Francis, “which is capable of understanding, accepting, hoping and risking everything” – even beyond the misunderstanding that this could cause. It will make the shepherd understand what needs to be done and adjust his heart and decisions to God’s times.
Finally, Francis mentioned the role of Catholics entrusted to a pope. They accompanied his life and then entrusted it to God. He called on the faithful to show gratitude and hope once again to Benedict that love that never fades. “We want to do this with the same anointing and wisdom, with the same delicacy and devotion that he has given us over the years,” Francis said.
Tens of thousands came to St. Peter’s Square to take part in the requiem for Benedict, who died on Saturday. Around 130 cardinals attended the service, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said. Among them were the German cardinals Reinhard Marx, Rainer Maria Woelki and Gerhard Ludwig Müller. According to the Italian news agency Ansa, 300 bishops were among the guests. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) from Benedikt’s home country Germany took part in the funeral service.
After the mass, the burial is planned in a small circle in the grottoes below St. Peter’s Basilica. Benedict died on Saturday at the age of 95. He was head of the Catholic Church from 2005 until his voluntary resignation in 2013. He is considered the first pope of modern times to resign for reasons of age.