How many people will attend Benedict's funeral on Thursday, January 5? That is the question that arose in Rome, hours before the funeral of the pope emeritus to be celebrated by Pope Francis at 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square. If the Vatican refused to give any numbers, Rome's city administration had planned for 65,000 to attend, but at least 200,000 people visited his body Monday through Wednesday.
Details of Benedict's funeral
If these numbers have nothing to do with the funeral of John Paul II, with more than a million people in attendance, they have raised expectations. And a desire, more or less obvious, to make this funeral a show of strength on the one hand is tied to the vision of the Church developed by Joseph Ratzinger, as opposed to that of Pope Francis.
“Why is there such a lowly funeral?”
On the other hand, admirers of the pope emeritus deliberately emphasize that Francis owes much to his predecessor. Because Benedict XVI was the first to face the problems of sexual abuse in the Church or the financial problems of the Curia. Furthermore, another source said, Benedict “is already the green pope, he has already begun writing a message on the subject, and has instructed the Justice and Peace Council to prepare. So when he becomes pope, Pope Francis only needs to publish under his own name, plus many of his pages.
Some have also openly criticized the difference in rite desired by the Vatican, to distinguish Benedict XVI's funeral from that of a sitting pope. “Why is there such a low-key funeral, they are “shocked” because heads of state and government are not officially invited by the Vatican.
Another Curia source close to the former pope, who made no secret of their criticism of the current pope, said: "There are so many young people, we can't help but be surprised." In their eyes, Joseph Ratzinger is a symbol of a Church committed to doctrine, in contrast to Francis, whose Church is attached to social issues.
One person familiar with Benedict's pontificate explains: “Around him was the confrontation between two worlds without leaders. Conservatives and moderates no longer have the leading images of the time of John Paul II, cardinals Martini and Ratzinger.” The source continued: “Although the pope emeritus lives in seclusion, his mere presence has helped to appease the entire conservative sector. They had the illusion that you could intervene. No longer available now. Like the lightning rod has disappeared.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visits
In recent days ceremonies have also been the occasion to see the political side as the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, paid a visit on Tuesday, January 3. Through the Calvinist Hungarian prime minister, an alleged symbol of a High-ranking politicians associated with the promotion of Christian values. Many also highlighted their presence at the funeral such as Cardinal Joseph Zen, a former bishop of Hong Kong who criticized Francis' stance on the China dossier.
At the Vatican, the majority were annoyed by these differences between the two popes. And refuses any political explanation of this funeral. This will be a moment of ecclesial communion, not a political moment. We cannot accuse the pope of doing too little: he will preside over the funeral in St. Peter's Square. In the Vatican, nothing is greater. But we also cannot assume that the burial of Benedict XVI is the burial of a pope in office: he himself chose to end his pontificate of almost ten years. And the only pope right now is Pope Francis.”
Translated by Joseph Nguyen Tung Lam
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