Pope Benedict XVI Laid To Rest Amidst 50,000 People In St Peter’s Square.
Pope Benedict XVI funeral a mix of ancient rituals and new precedents. Funeral for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI held 1:39 Pope Francis presided at the funeral on Jan. 5 in St. Peter's Square for his predecessor former Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died at the age of 95. VATICAN CITY — The Catholic Church conducted a historic funeral Thursday for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, using a mix of ancient rituals and new precedents for a figure who transformed the papacy with his decision 10 years ago to retire. Pope Francis presided over the 90-minute ceremony, a stripped-down farewell in which he paid tribute to his predecessor with a homily light on personal touches and heavy on verse, mentioning Benedict’s name only once. Afterward, as Benedict was being carried away by pallbearers, Francis — standing with the help of a cane — put his hand on the casket for a final goodbye. Here's what to know: Francis’s homily drew some backlash from conservatives, who felt that...