Vatican News

Pope Francis delivers the homily at the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square on Jan. 5, 2023.

FULL TEXT: Pope Francis’ homily at Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s funeral Mass

Jan 5, 2023

By Pope Francis

“Benedict, faithful friend of the Bridegroom, may your joy be complete as you hear his voice, now and forever!” Read more

The coffin of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is carried into St. Peter's Square prior to his funeral Mass on Jan. 5, 2023.

Benedict XVI’s funeral: Tens of thousands attend simple, solemn liturgy for beloved pope emeritus

Royalty, cardinals, patriarchs, government officials, and many Catholic families and religious attended the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen, former bishop of Hong Hong, attends the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Jan. 5, 2023, in St. Peter's Square.

Cardinal Zen attends Benedict XVI funeral after Hong Kong authorities release passport

Jan 5, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The 90-year-old cardinal from Hong Kong arrived in St. Peter’s Square dressed in red and walking with a cane to... Read more

Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, pictured Dec. 18, 2017

Portugal’s president unhappy with Vatican delegation restrictions for Benedict XVI funeral

Jan 4, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

President Marcelo Nuno Duarte Rebelo de Sousa has taken issue with the announcement that only Italy and Germany would have... Read more

Pope Benedict XVI leads the recitation of the Holy Rosary during a candlelight vigil at the Catholic shrine of Fatima in central Portugal, May 12, 2010.

Benedict XVI’s funeral: How to watch, what to expect

Jan 4, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

The funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will be held on Thursday in Rome in St. Peter’s Square at 9:30... Read more

Screenshot of Joe Biden with then Pope Benedict XVI while he was Vice President.

President Joe Biden will not attend Benedict XVI’s funeral

Jan 4, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican’s press office has confirmed that only two official state delegations — from Italy and Germany — were invited... Read more

Pope Francis gives his message during the weekly general audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Jan. 4, 2023

Pope Francis: Benedict XVI brought us to ‘encounter with Jesus’

Jan 4, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis began his message Jan. 4 with a reference to his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who died on Dec. 31. Read more

Pope Benedict XVI

10 quotes from Pope Benedict XVI on the beauty of love and suffering

Jan 3, 2023

By Katie Yoder

When Pope Benedict XVI published his first encyclical, he chose an everlasting topic: love. Read more

Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal George Pell in Australia.

Cardinal Pell: Benedict XVI was complete opposite of the caricatures of his enemies

Jan 3, 2023

By CNA Staff

Australian Cardinal George Pell shared in an interview with EWTN News in Depth that Pope Benedict XVI was actually “a... Read more

Pope Benedict XVI returns to his homeland for his first international event since being elected pope. He participated in World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany Aug. 16–21, 2005.

PHOTOS: A look back at Pope Benedict XVI’s participation in World Youth Days

Jan 3, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

On each World Youth Day, the late pope exhorted young people to follow the guidance of the Gospel by using... Read more

Archbishop Georg Gänswein bent down to kiss the hands of his friend and mentor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Personal secretary of Benedict XVI set to publish new book: Who is he? 

Jan 3, 2023

By Kelsey Wicks, Jonah McKeown

Pope Benedict XVI’s longtime personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, has written a firsthand account of his friend and mentor’s papacy. Read more

Rosary beads entwined in the hands of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as his body lies in state on Jan. 3, 2023, in St. Peter's Basilica.

Here are the prayers and readings for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s funeral Mass

Jan 3, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis will preside over the funeral of Benedict XVI on Thursday, Jan. 5, at 9:30 a.m. (Rome time) in... Read more

New Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, archbishop of Bogotá, Colombia, receives the biretta cap from Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Basilica on Nov. 24, 2012, in Vatican City, Vatican.

What did being a cardinal mean to Joseph Ratzinger?

Jan 3, 2023

By Marco Mancini

The future Pope Benedict XVI wore the red cassock for almost 28 years. Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen preaches a sermon during a Mass at the Holy Cross Church on May 24, 2022, in Hong Kong, China.

Cardinal Zen: Benedict XVI will be a ‘powerful intercessor in heaven’ for China

Jan 3, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In a reflection posted on his blog on Jan. 3, Cardinal Joseph Zen remembered Benedict XVI as a “great defender... Read more

The mortal remains of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI were moved early in the morning on Jan. 2, 2023, from his former residence in the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery to St. Peter's Basilica, where the late pope is lying in state through Jan. 4. Thousands waited in line to pay their respects.

Funeral of Benedict XVI: Everything you need to know

Jan 3, 2023

By CNA Staff

Following the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, these are the details you should know about his funeral in the... Read more

The mortal remains of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI were moved early in the morning on Jan. 2, 2023, from his former residence in the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery to St. Peter's Basilica, where the late pope is lying in state through Jan. 4. Thousands waited in line to pay their respects.

Scenes from a day of grief and gratitude: 65,000 pay their respects to Benedict XVI

Jan 2, 2023

By Shannon Mullen

The body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was laid in state for the first time Monday, drawing a massive crowd... Read more

Pope Benedict XVI arrives in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican for the Oct. 21, 2012, canonization ceremony for Jacques Berthieu, Pedro Calungsod, Giovanni Battista Piamarta, Maria Carmen Salles y Barangueras, Marianne Cope, Caterina (Kateri) Tekakwitha, and Anna Schaffer.

Meet 7 of the best-known saints canonized by Pope Benedict XVI

Jan 2, 2023

By Maisy Sullivan

During his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI beatified 870 people and canonized a total of 45 saints. Read more

Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict embrace each other at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, June 30, 2015.

The relationship between Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis

Jan 2, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis visited Benedict frequently, including a final time three days before the pope emeritus' death. Read more

Credit: © L’Osservatore Romano

Five quotes from Pope Benedict XVI on faith

Jan 2, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Pope Benedict XVI’s death marks the end of an era in which the prolific writer and speaker conveyed his reflections... Read more

Juan Luis Tron (second from left) and Maria Magdalene Baca (second from right) together with other young people from the Regnum Christi movement wait outside St. Peter's Basilica on Jan. 2, 2023, to pay their respects to the late Pope Benedict XVI, who died Dec. 31, 2022.

‘We love Benedict’: Catholics flock to the Vatican to say goodbye to Benedict XVI

Jan 2, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Approximately 40,000 people visited Benedict XVI in the first five hours he was lying in state on Monday, according to... Read more