Pope Francis marks New Yr as Vatican prepares to mourn BenedictYesterday

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s final phrases had been “Lord, I like you,” his longtime secretary mentioned Sunday, quoting a nurse who helped look after the 95-year-old former pontiff in his closing hours.

Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, a German prelate who lived within the Vatican monastery the place Benedict took up residence after his 2013 retirement, mentioned the nurse recounted listening to Benedict utter these phrases at about 3 a.m. Saturday. The retired pope died later that morning.

“Benedict XVI, with a faint voice however in a really distinct means, mentioned in Italian, `Lord, I like you,”’ Gaenswein advised the Vatican’s official media, including that it occurred when the aides tending to Benedict had been altering shifts.

“I wasn’t there in that second, however the nurse just a little later recounted it,” the archbishop mentioned. “They had been his final understandable phrases, as a result of afterwards, he wasn’t capable of categorical himself any extra.”

Gaenswein didn’t determine the male nurse who shared the data.

Earlier, the Vatican mentioned that Pope Francis went to pay his respects instantly after Gaenswein referred to as to tell him of Benedict’s dying shortly after 9:30 a.m. Saturday Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni mentioned Francis stayed in Benedict’s monastery for fairly a while earlier than returning to his residence in a resort situated throughout the Vatican Gardens.

Throughout New Yr’s Day remarks on Sunday, Francis prayed for his predecessor’s passage to heaven and expressed thanks for Benedict’s lifetime of service to the church.

Francis departed briefly from studying his homily throughout a morning Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica to wish aloud for Benedict.

“Immediately we entrust to our Blessed Mom our beloved Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in order that she might accompany him in his passage from this world to God,” he mentioned.

The basilica is ready to host Benedict’s coffin for 3 days of viewing that begin Monday.

Rome Prefect Bruno Frattasi, an Inside Ministry official, advised Italian state TV that “no fewer than 25,000, 30,000″ mourners had been anticipated to file previous the coffin on Monday.

On Sunday, Benedict’s physique lay on a burgundy-colored bier within the chapel of the monastery the place he had lived throughout his practically decade-long retirement. He was wearing a miter, the headgear of a bishop, and a crimson cloak-like vestment.

A rosary was positioned in his hand. Behind him, seen in pictures launched by the Vatican, had been the chapel’s altar and a adorned Christmas tree.

Francis remembered Benedict once more later Sunday whereas addressing hundreds of individuals in St. Peter’s Sq.. He advised the group that “in these hours, we invoke her intercession, specifically for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who, yesterday morning, left this world.”

“Allow us to unite all collectively, with one coronary heart and one soul, in giving due to God for the present of this trustworthy servant of the Gospel and of the church,” Francis mentioned, talking from a window of the Apostolic Palace to pilgrims and vacationers under.

The sq. would be the setting for Benedict’s funeral led by Francis on Thursday morning. The service will probably be a easy one, the Vatican has mentioned, in step with the needs of Benedict. Earlier than he was elected pope in 2005, Benedict was a German cardinal who served because the Church’s guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy.

In recent times, Francis hailed Benedict’s gorgeous determination to turn out to be the primary pope to resign in 600 years and has made clear he’d contemplate such a step as an possibility for himself.

Hobbled by knee ache, Francis, 86, on Sunday arrived within the basilica in a wheelchair and took his place in a chair for the Mass, which was being celebrated by the Vatican’s secretary of state.

Francis, who has repeatedly decried the warfare in Ukraine and its devastation, recalled those that are victims of warfare, passing the year-end holidays in darkness, chilly and concern.

“Initially of this 12 months, we’d like hope, simply because the Earth wants rain,” Francis mentioned in his homily.

Whereas addressing the trustworthy in St. Peter’s Sq., the pope cited the “insupportable” warfare in Ukraine, which started greater than 10 months in the past, and conflicts elsewhere different locations on the earth.

But, Francis mentioned, “allow us to not lose hope” that peace will prevail.