The last goodbye to Benedict XVI

The faithful can go to the Vatican from Monday, January 2 to Thursday, January 5 to bid farewell to Benedict XVI. Joseph Ratzinger, who died on December 31, will be buried Thursday in Saint Peter’s Square in a religious ceremony presided over by Pope Francis.

Under a leaden sky, thousands of people line up to give their last goodbye to Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Basilica. In Saint Peter’s Square, the heart of the Vatican State, the atmosphere is different from that of a conventional day. Fences on all sides and tight security measures confuse visitors.

Many of those who wait to see the remains of Benedict XVI are tourists, like the Brazilian Vanessa. RFI interviews her with her daughter as soon as they leave the funeral chapel, where recording devices are not allowed.

“It is the first time we are in Rome, an amazing city. Unfortunately this event happened, sad for everyone, but we were able to pay homage to the pope for the last time, inside the Basilica… It is the first time we have attended a pope’s obsequies”, says Vanessa.

“A bit of an odd situation”

Despite the solemnity of the moment, a different atmosphere is breathed from the funeral of John Paul II in 2005, probably because Benedict XVI was the emeritus pontiff and the Catholic Church has not been orphaned by its Great Shepherd.

Enrique, from Seville, has noticed the difference inside and outside the basilica: “A pope dies and it seems that the world stops. Now perhaps people are paying attention, but it is true that there has been a feeling of less pomp. Even in the same queue. We even found the atmosphere among the security guards curious… There was a very relaxed atmosphere. After all, he was a pope, although he is a resigner, he does not stop being a pope. The truth is that it is a somewhat peculiar situation ”, he explains.

ThursdayFrancisco will officiate in this same place the funeralhe. It will be the first time that a pope fires another pope. Tens of thousands of people are expected to participate.