Pope Benedict who was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013, and died on the 31st December, 2022, will be buried in a cypress casket today 5th January, 2023. He would be buried inside two other coffins as part of tradition along with coins, medals and a deed describing his Pontificate funeral.

The funeral would be led by Pope Francis in front of thousands mourners. He would later be buried under St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican city.

According to report, it is a tradition of Pontiffs, for the body of a ‘Pope emeritus’ to be placed in three separate coffins, the first of which is cypress wood, which in turn is place into a zinc coffin and then the zinc coffin goes into the last which is a wooden casket.

The accounts of his historic papacy known as ‘Rogito’, will be written and placed in his coffin alongside coins that were minted during his pontificate and his Pallium stoles, which is a scarf that is worn over the chasuble when celebrating Mass, and the religious garment worn over the Pope’s robes.

The body of Benedict was carried out of the Basilica on Wednesday, 4th January, 2023, after the laying in state ended and will be taken to St. Peter’s Square for the funeral today, 5th January, 2023.

The Coffin was sealed before today’s funeral and will be eventually buried in a crypt once occupied by the tomb of Pope John Paul II in the Grattos under the Basilica in the Vatican city.

Story: Hilda Katu

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