WATCH LIVE: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's funeral at St. Peter's Basilica
Published Date: 1/5/2023
Source: PBS NewsHour
Pope Francis is due to preside over Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s funeral at St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday, January 4. The event is expected to draw heads of state and royalty despite Benedict’s requests for simplicity and Vatican efforts to keep the first funeral for an emeritus pope in modern times low-key. By the time the basilica’s doors were shut to the public on Wednesday evening, about 200,000 people had paid their respects to Benedict in over three days of public viewing. Benedict, who was elected pope in 2005 following John Paul’s death, became the first pope in six centuries years to resign when he announced in 2013 he no longer had the strength to lead the Catholic Church. Thursday's funeral service is expected to begin at 3:00 a.m. ET. Stream your PBS favorites with the PBS app: https://to.pbs.org/2Jb8twG Find more from PBS NewsHour at https://www.pbs.org/newshour Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2HfsCD6 Follow us: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pbsnews Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/newshour Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/newshour Facebook: http://www.pbs.org/newshour Subscribe: PBS NewsHour podcasts: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/podcasts Newsletters: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/subscribe