Following the funeral Mass in St. Peter's Square, the body of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI was taken down into the Crypt of the Popes under the main Basilica.
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, encouraged those present to pray for the repose of the soul of the Pope emeritus.
Dear brothers and sisters, we humbly beseech God, the Father of mercies, on behalf of Pope Emeritus Benedict, that he may be sleep in the Lord.
Archbishop Georg Gänswein and the four lay women who had taken care of the Pope emeritus were among the group who sang hymns and prayed as the Pope emeritus' remains were blessed.
Some cardinals and bishops also followed the Pope emeritus' remains and offered their prayers, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Two seals were then placed on the wooden coffin before it was moved into a metal casket decorated with a simple cross, the Pope emeritus' emblem and an inscription in Latin. Then, the metal one was sealed and set into another wooden coffin with the same decorations.
After the coffin was lowered, Archbishop Gänswein said a final prayer and blessing.
KG
