ROME.- The mortal remains of Benedict XVI have already been transferred to the Vatican caves, which was the tomb of John Paul II and also of John XXIII. The body of the emeritus pope rests in a triple coffin, the first made of cypress wood, the second of zinc and the third of oak, together with some personal objects, such as the medals minted during his pontificate or a scroll with the most outstanding events. of his life as the fight against sexual abuse.
The crypt where Pope Ratzinger is buried was the tomb of John Paul II until his beatification in 2011, when he was transferred to the chapel of Saint Sebastian on the surface of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Previously, it was also the tomb used by John XXIII until his beatification in the year 2000.
As reported by the Holy See press office, the private rite by which the first of the coffins has been introduced into the other two and sealed, in which only his personal secretary, Georg Ganswein, and the four Memores were present Domini – the nuns of the Communion and Liberation movement who have cared for him in these last years of his life and there were no cameras or journalists – lasted about an hour and fifty minutes.
Specifically, at 10:53 a.m., a group of twelve sediarians, the former bearers of the Popes’ Gestatory Chair, introduced it back into Saint Peter’s Basilica and at 12:38 p.m. it was announced that it had already burial completed.
Francis prayed for a few seconds before the coffin of Benedict XVI and then went to the Vatican grottoes to say goodbye.
