Pope Francis presides at a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica as the body of Benedict is being prepared for three days of public viewing in the same church starting Monday, January 2.
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis marked the Roman Catholic Church’s traditional World Day of Peace on Sunday, January 1, but the start of the new year at the Vatican was overshadowed by the death of his predecessor, Benedict., December 31, at the age of 95, was being prepared for three days of public viewing in the same church starting Monday, January 2.
“Let us pray to our Mother in a special way for her sons and daughters who are suffering and no longer have the strength to pray, and for our many brothers and sisters throughout the world who are victims of war, passing these holidays in darkness and cold, in poverty and fear, immersed in violence and indifference,” he said.
In it, he asked in a general, spiritual way, that God would welcome him to internal life “despite all my sins and insufficiencies”.While tributes to the former pope continued to be made by world leaders, and conservative members of the faithful, others were highly critical of his pontificate.