the puzzle of the burial of the pope emeritus

what will happen after death of Benedict XVI? This is the question that practically all observers, even the most seasoned specialists in Vatican information, have asked since the worsening of the health of Pope Emeritus became known. The reason is simple: there are no precedents for funerals of a retired Pope of his own free will in the history of Christianity.

Yes it is true that there were various potatoes before Benedict XVI who they resigned the pontificatebut all of them either saw each other bound to do so or opted for this decision when circumstances prevented them from continuing to hold office. In several cases, moreover, died exiled or imprisoned.

The last was Gregory XII, who came to the throne of Peter in the midst of the so-called western schismduring which several potatoes fought each other in the attempt to seize power. Gregory XII was one of them but, with the Council of Costanza, he finally renounced his desires -along with the other contenders-, and thus ended that schism.

exiled and punished

Another resigner was Gregorio VI, although in his case the comparison is difficult to make with Benedict XVI. That Pope, in fact, also abdicated, but he did so only a year after he took power. And the cause was mainly one: the pressure exerted on him by Enrique III El Negro, then Holy Roman Emperorwhich forced him to confess that he had bought the papacy.

pontian, the 18th Pontiff of the Church, fared no better. In an early period of the Christian religion (3rd century), this Pope reigned for five years before being sentenced to hard laborwhich led to his death shortly after his abdication (according to some sources, due to the terrible hardships and ill-treatment to which he was subjected).

But neither Silverio, a pope who reigned in the sixth century, had a placid papacy. Silverio was forced into exile on the Italian island of Ponza, after being stripped of his habits so that his successor, Vigilio, until then considered a usurper, would be chosen.

Pope Francis unlikely to favor modest funeral

another benedict, number IX, suffered a similar fate. Also in his case, his resignation coincided with a series of disputes that finally culminated in the appointment of another priest, Silvestre III, as maximum leader of the Church. More mysterious, however, remains the story of Clement I, Little is known about his life and death, although one of the most accredited versions says that he abandoned power after learning that was going to be banished.

The (non) exception

The only exception would be that of the octogenarian Celestine Va Pope inexperienced in the management of the Church who allegedly threw in the towel voluntarily because He didn’t feel up to the task. according to the information that has come down to our days.

Everything indicates that the Roman Ritual will be applied, which entails nine days of mourning

Even so, the outcome on this occasion was not exempt from a bloody end. After one of his advisors became his successor (Boniface VII), he ordered Celestino to be locked up in a prison and there he died. Having said this, it is undoubtedly curious that Benedict XVI himself visited the place where some mortal remains of this late Pope, in the Italian city of L’Aquila. It happened in 2009.

unknown protocols

The Vatican has not yet communicated the protocol that will be followed. However, it is unlikely that the Vatican officials in charge (probably, for a long time) to organize the funeral have taken refuge in history to establish what they will be rites that must be followed, after the death of the Pontiff who is no longer.

Of course, the experts consider that it is unlikely that the reigning pope, Francis, lean towards a modest funeral. On the contrary, the most shared prognosis is that the Argentine pontiff will organize a great ceremony when the time comes and the Roman Ritual is used -at least in part-, the rite that entails a nine day mourning

In the crypt of Saint Peter

Related news

Later, the Pope could be placed in the crypt of San Pedro, where John Paul II was until his canonization. This is the Pope’s wish, according to the biographer of Benedict XVI, Peter Seewald.

Be that as it may, the situation will be unprecedented as was Benedict’s decision to resign from the pontificate in 2013, which opened the door to an atypical time of two Popes who have lived together and in peace for more than ten years in the Vatican. Therefore, unanswered questions from observers are many. Who will announce his death to the world? Who will hold the funeral? How will he be dressed? Will they be officially state funerals or simple obsequies?

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