The Roman Catholic Church yesterday laid to rest Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Francis, Benedict’s successor, presided over the funeral, in a final peculiarity to end a strange era in the modern church in which two popes, one resigned and one in power, one conservative and one liberal, coexisted in the tiny confines of the Vatican.
Francis opted for a homily that reflected his own vision of the church, and he paid respects to Benedict by repeatedly citing his predecessor’s words, even as he made explicit mention of him only once. He also reflected the theologian’s core belief of putting Jesus at the center of life by meditating on how Jesus had put himself in God’s hands.
Not everyone was satisfied with Francis’ approach, which Benedict’s supporters said had seemed paltry in comparison with the homily that Benedict himself, then a cardinal, delivered at the funeral of John Paul II — an eloquent and full-throated ode to the life and legacy of a larger-than-life figure who had run the church for more than a quarter-century.
“Benedict, faithful friend of the Bridegroom,” Francis said in his homily, referring to Jesus’ role as husband to the church, “may your joy be complete as you hear his voice, now and forever!”
