The death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has unfolded in an entirely un-papal-like manner: There were no bells tolling in St. Peter's Basilica, no solemn announcement in a Vatican City square and no mobilizing of official delegations to Rome.
FILE - Pope Francis, second from left, watches Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI enter St. Peter's Basilica accompanied by Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, right, at the Vatican, on Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Benedict XVI's 2013 resignation sparked calls for rules and regulations for future retired popes to avoid the kind of confusion that ensued. Benedict, the German theologian who will be remembered as the first pope in 600 years to resign, has died, the Vatican announced Saturday Dec. 31, 2022. He was 95.
When John Paul II died in 2005, presidents, prime ministers and kings from more than 100 countries attended the funeral presided over by none other thanFor Benedict's funeral, the Vatican only invited Italy and Germany to send official delegations, and advised foreign embassies that any other leaders who wished to attend could do so but only in their “private capacity.”
Francis will have the final word on Thursday, when he eulogizes Benedict, whom he has praised for his courage in “opening the door” to letting other popes retire. Throughout Benedict’s 10-year retirement, many traditionalists continued to consider Benedict a point of reference, and some even refused to respect the legitimacy of Francis as pope.
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