Funeral for Pope Benedict XVI to be held at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican

The Vatican has announced that the funeral Mass of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will take place at 9:30am (GMT+1) on Thursday, 5 January 2023, in St. Peter’s Square.

Benedict XVI will be buried in the crypt under St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis will preside over the funeral, which, in keeping with Benedict’s wishes, “will be carried out under the sign of simplicity,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

Benedict’s death, at the age of 95, was announced in Rome on 31 December 2022. His body will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica from tomorrow morning Monday, 2 January 2023.