On December 28th last year, alarms went off about the health of Pope Benedict XVI when Pope Francis said these words at a General Audience:
POPE FRANCIS
I would like to ask all of you for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict who, in silence, is sustaining the Church. Remember him, he is very ill, ask the Lord to console him, to support him in this witness of love for the Church until the end.
Shortly afterwards, the Vatican confirmed that Benedict XVI's health had worsened due to his age. He was 95 years old. However, he was not in the hospital, but in a monastery inside the Vatican. There he was last seen publicly with Pope Francis greeting the new cardinals that were created that same August.
Three days later, on Saturday, December 31, the world woke up to the news of the death of the German pope.
MATTEO BRUNI
Director, Holy See Press Office
It is with sorrow that we inform you that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away this morning at 9:34 am.
During the weekend, Pope Benedict XVI's funeral chapel was at the monastery he was living in. The then pope emeritus wore red pontifical vestments.
On Monday, January 2, his body was moved to St. Peter's Basilica. Thousands of pilgrims passed by daily to bid farewell to the man who was their pope for eight years.
On Thursday, January 5, his funeral took place. It was a simple and sober ceremony, just as Benedict wanted. It was a historic moment. For the first time, a pope buried another pope. Francis was emotional during the final farewell to his predecessor.
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TR: AT
