Former Pope Benedict XVI: Catholic church announces burial date, venue, other arrangements

Former Pope Benedict will lie in state at St Peter’s Basilica from Monday January 2, 2023, following his death at the age of 95, the Vatican has announced. 

The Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic Church, said the body of the Pope Emeritus will remain in the historic site so that ‘the faithful can bid farewell.’ 

A spokesman said the funeral will be held in St Peter’s Square on January 5 from 9.30am local time and is expected to be overseen by the current Pope Francis. 

It will be the first time in the church’s 2,000-year history that a sitting pope will bury his predecessor. The institution is expected to release more details shortly.

The ex-pontiff Benedict – who became first to resign in 600 years when he stood down nine years ago – died on Saturday in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.

Pope Francis presiding over the funeral would represent a break in tradition, as that responsibility usually rests with the dean of the College of Cardinals. 

When he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, however, Benedict did lead the funeral Mass for his predecessor Pope John Paul II.   

It remains unclear how big of an affair next week’s funeral will be, how long the Mass will last and which world leaders will attend.

It comes after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a statement on Twitter recollecting on the late Pope’s visit to the UK in 2010.

‘He was a great theologian… [The] visit was an historic historic moment for both Catholics and non-Catholics throughout our country. 

‘My thoughts are with Catholic people in the UK and around the world today.’