In the Vatican, funeral ceremonies for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI were held in St Peter’s Square. The Mass, presided over by Pope Francis, was attended by tens of thousands of the faithful. They included Polish President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki.

President Duda arrived in Rome on Wednesday (4 January) evening. A group of MPs and senators, representing various groups, also flew with President Duda.

It is difficult to imagine that at such a moment the Polish President could be missing from the Vatican,’ stressed the Head of the International Policy Office, Jakub Kumoch, before his departure.

‘The President has enormous respect for the theological and intellectual achievements of Benedict XVI. He is a figure who has played a great role in the life of the Church and Catholics around the world, including Poland,’ the Minister noted.

Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Senior Benedict XVI, died on Saturday morning, 31 December 2022, at the Vatican. He was 95 years old.

As the Office of the President recalls, he is remembered as a great friend of Poland and Poles. In May 2006, during his apostolic journey to Poland, Benedict XVI visited Polish President Lech Kaczynski and First Lady Maria Kaczynska at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. There is currently a commemorative plaque in the chapel of the Palace, where the Pope was praying at the time.

At 8:45 a.m., the coffin containing the body of Benedict XVI was carried out of the Basilica to St Peter’s Square, where a rosary was prayed for the late Pope senior. At 9:30 a.m., the funeral Mass began, presided over by Pope Francis. Altogether, the liturgy was concelebrated by more than 120 cardinals, 400 bishops and 4,000 priests.

Benedict XVI was buried in the Vatican Grottoes, the same place where John Paul II rested until his beatification in 2011.

Adrian Andrzejewski