Caroline Baudry, edited by Yanis Darras
modified to
10:22 a.m., January 05, 2023
They will be hundreds of thousands to make the trip to attend the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI this Thursday. At the Vatican, thousands of faithful are expected to pay their last respects to the pope emeritus. Among them, hundreds of French people made the trip to Italy, to experience “an absolutely essential moment in a journey of Christian faith”.
Mary strolls on the cobblestones of a picturesque street in Rome. “I left at 2 p.m. from the apartment and I had nothing but a pair of heels on me, because I’m at a friend’s house. It was not a very bright idea”, jokes -she at the microphone of Europe 1. But that will not spoil the trip explains the tourist, who came to Italy on purpose to attend the funeral of Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI.
“It’s a real pilgrimage. I let myself be completely carried away. We were even ready to sleep on the street, because we looked for hotels that weren’t too bad, but everything was full. Anyway, we’re here for Benedict XVI. The rest, we don’t care a bit”, explains Marie.
Journey of the Christian Faith
And she will not be the only Frenchman to say goodbye to the former sovereign pontiff. Phone in hand, the latter contacts friends, all Catholics, who arrive in dribs and drabs from the airport to attend the funeral of the pope emeritus, like Pierre and Benoit. “There is a real Benedict XVI generation, to which I belong”, explains Pierre at the microphone of Europe 1.
“So, we are very early in the morning and we hope to arrive near Saint-Pierre Square very early. We will fully experience this great moment which is absolutely essential in a journey of Christian faith”, continues Benoit. Behind them, the heavy door of the French church of Saint-Nicolas des Lorrains is ajar awaiting the ceremony in the Vatican. A ceremony that will be full of emotion for these French believers.
“It’s a real pilgrimage”
Almost a week ago, Pope Emeritus Benoit XVI passed away at the age of 95. From now on, Rome and the Catholic world are preparing for the funeral of the pope emeritus, this Thursday. The ceremony will be celebrated by Pope Francis from 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. Nearly 100,000 faithful are expected at the ceremony, and dozens of state representatives, like the Minister of the Interior and French worship, Gérald Darmanin, will also make the trip.