LIVE – Death of Benedict XVI: Pope Francis will preside over the funeral on January 5 at the Vatican

⇒ 12:40 p.m. [VATICAN] Pope Francis will celebrate the Te Deum tonight, despite the death of Benedict XVI
Pope Francis is expected to speak for the first time since the death of his predecessor during the Te Deum celebrated tonight at 5 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica, which has been maintained, the Vatican announced. The Pope will evoke the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

⇒ 12:25 p.m. [RÉACTIONS] European bishops praise the “European magisterium” developed by Benedict XVI

The Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) has declared “to join in the prayer of the whole world for the soul” Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. CCEE President, Msgr. Gintaras Grušas, recalled in a press release “the European magisterium that Benedict XVI developed during his pontificate, emphasizing the importance of the Christian roots of Europe and highlighting the necessary return to Christ and to evangelization for the construction of a civilization of love “.

⇒ 12:20 p.m. [CHRÉTIENS D’ORIENT] Archbishop Gollnisch recalls a pope who sought to “deepen ties with the Eastern Churches”

The director of the Œuvre d’Orient, Mgr Pascal Gollnisch held on Saturday morning at “give thanks for fruitfulness” of the pontificate of Benedict XVI and “the constant concern that he had for the faithful Catholics of the East”.

“Benedict XVI considers Eastern Catholic communities, following John Paul II, as one of the ‘two lungs’, without which the universal Church cannot live its full catholicity”praises Archbishop Gollnisch, who also salutes the openness advocated by the pope emeritus, in particular by enriching “the college of cardinals by the presence of numerous oriental prelates”.

“By placing his pontificate under the sign of communion, Pope Benedict (sought) to deepen the bonds between the Catholic Church and the various separated Eastern Churches. In this regard, his numerous travels, correspondence, ecumenical meetings and joint declarations have manifested this thirst for unity which characterizes him so much.recalled Bishop Pascal Gollnisch.

⇒ 12:15 p.m. [ÉDITO] Benedict XVI, the pope of paradoxes

Find the editorial by Jérôme Chapuis, editorial director of The cross.

⇒ 12:10 p.m. [FUNÉRAILLES] Benedict XVI’s funeral will take place on Thursday, January 5

The funeral of Benedict XVI will take place on Thursday January 5 at 9:30 a.m., Place Saint-Pierre. They will be celebrated by Pope Francis, the Vatican announced.

⇒ 12:05 p.m. [ROME] The faithful arrive in St. Peter’s Square to pray

“It is the pope of my adolescence who is gone. I was at school with the Salesians, and I remember very well the day of his election”, explains Brother Kevin Gabriel, 31, in his Franciscan habit. As soon as he learned of the death of the pope emeritus, the young brother went to the square to pray there.

From the terrace of his convent, this religious from Nicaragua can also distinguish the “Monastery”, where Benedict XVI died a few minutes earlier. “For me, he was a referent, he made me grow in faith. I am sad, but also happy that he can finally meet the One to whom he has dedicated his life. He had a controversial pontificate, but time will tell what his legacy will be. »

⇒ 12:00 p.m. [RÉACTIONS] Rishi Sunak “saddened”, Giorgia Meloni salutes “a giant of faith and reason”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said to himself “saddened” by the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. “He was a great theologian whose visit to the UK in 2010 was a historic moment for Catholics and non-Catholics in our country”he said, while the Anglican Church said to pray in memory of the former pope.

In a statement, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the pope emeritus was “a giant of faith and reason”thus “a great man from history whom history will not forget”. “I expressed to the Holy Father Francis my participation and that of the government in his pain and that of the entire ecclesial community”she added in a press release.

⇒ 11:55 a.m.: [ÉGLISE] Cardinal Sarah’s prayer for Benedict XVI

Cardinal Robert Sarah’s tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The two men had co-written the book in 2020 From the depths of our hearts in which they shared their vision of the priesthood and affirmed the importance of priestly celibacy.

⇒ 11:50 a.m. [DOCUMENTATION] Pope Benedict XVI through his texts

During his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI wrote several encyclical letters, apostolic exhortations or apostolic letters in the form of motu proprio. The Catholic Documentation offers reading or re-reading.

⇒ 11:45 a.m.: [RÉACTIONS] Emmanuel Macron salutes the efforts of Benedict XVI “for a more fraternal world”

“My thoughts are with the bereaved Catholics of France and the world” by the death of Benoit XVI, declared the French president on his Twitter account. Emmanuel Macron also highlighted a pope “who worked with soul and intelligence for a more fraternal world”.

⇒ 11:40 a.m. [ROME] Journalists from around the world flock to St. Peter’s Square

Our special correspondent in Rome is live from St. Peter’s Square, filled with tourists who are very present in Rome at this time of year. Few of them have taken notice of the news, while cameras from around the world set up around the square.

“I am overcome with great sadness”explains Mirko, who came from Vicenza, a city in northern Italy, to spend a few days with his family with his wife Marta and his two children, Lucca, 8, and Alessandro, 12. “He was a great pope, because he was the one who came after John Paul II. He had a very important role for me. This morning, when he woke up, Lucca had told us that he was convinced that the pope was going to die today, he was right. It is a day that will be veiled in sadness. »

⇒ 11:35 a.m.: [ALLEMAGNE] Chancellor Olaf Scholz mourns the loss of a ‘remarkable figure’ in the Church

The world is losing “significant figure” of the Catholic Church after the death on Saturday at the age of 95 of former Pope Benedict XVI, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “As German pope, Benedict XVI was for many, and not only in this country, a special church leader”he said on his Twitter account, also calling him a “fighting personality” and of “intelligent theologian”.

⇒ 11:20 a.m.: [CEF] The bishops of France salute “a great theologian” and a pope “demanding as to the truth”

“We have just learned with great sadness of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI”regretted this Saturday morning the Conference of Bishops of Franceannouncing “Masses and celebrations in dioceses and parishes to give thanks for what he brought to the Church and to the world, and to intercede for him as he wished. »

The CEF thus welcomes “a great theologian”a man “lucid and courageous, demanding as to truth, faithful to Tradition but free from all nostalgia”. “He wanted to serve the unity of the Church by basing it on the most precise truth, both in ecumenical relations and in his approach to the so-called traditionalist groups in the Catholic Church. »

“The French remember with emotion the magnificent trip of Benedict XVI to France in 2008, to Paris and to Lourdes, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin in Lourdes”continue the bishops of France, who also underline the importance of the speech of Benoit XVI at the College of Bernardins for the world of culture.

⇒ 11:05 a.m. [MORT DE BENOÎT XVI] The body of the pope emeritus will be displayed at St. Peter’s Basilica

From Monday, January 2, the body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will be on display at St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican has announced.

The funeral of the 265th pope should be celebrated by his successor Francis in Rome, an unprecedented event in the history of the Catholic Church which tens of thousands of people could attend, including heads of state.

⇒ 10:45 a.m.: [BENOÎT XVI] Joseph Ratzinger is dead

The pope emeritus Benedict XVIwhose renunciation in 2013 took the whole world by surprise, died on Saturday December 31 at the age of 95 in the monastery in the Vatican gardens where he had retired.

“I am sorry to announce that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, died today at 9:34 a.m., at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, in the Vatican”announced in a press release the director of the press service of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni.

The health of the German theologian had deteriorated in recent days, but the Vatican had indicated on Friday that his condition was “stationary” and that he had participated in the celebration of Mass in his room on Thursday.