The president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Juan José Omella, will also be at the ceremony
The Queen Sofia and the Minister of the Presidency, Félix Bolañosas in charge of government relations with the Church, will attend this Thursday the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, according to sources from the Executive.
Together with Queen Sofía, they will attend the funeral ceremonies, which will be presided over by Pope Francis, a Spanish delegation also made up of the Spanish ambassador to the Holy See, Isabel Celaá.
The funeral in memory of Joseph Ratzinger will be joined by the Archbishop of Barcelona and President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Juan José Omellawho will also celebrate a funeral mass on Saturday at the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
The funeral of Benedict XVI will not be a state one as he is not a “reigning” pontiff, but will be attended by official delegations from Italy and from Ratzinger’s native country, Germany, in addition to other authorities being able to attend the funeral at personal title.
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The body of the emeritus pope will be buried in the crypt of the Basilica of San Pedro and the tomb chosen by himself has been the one that housed the remains of John Paul II, empty since the body of this pope was exposed on the surface of the temple in 2011.
Benedict XVI passed away on Saturday at the age of 95 and since Monday he is being fired by thousands of faithful who visit his funeral chapel.