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Pope Francis at New Year's Mass: Commemoration of Benedict XVI
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Andrew Medichini / dpa
The day after the death of Benedict XVI, Pope Francis
called to prayer for the pontiff emeritus.
»Today we trust the beloved Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
to the Mother of God to accompany him on his way from this world to God," said the head of the Catholic Church on Sunday during the New Year's Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.
Bishop Bertram Meier from Augsburg, among others, celebrated from Germany.
Benedict XVI
died on Saturday morning at the age of 95 in the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, where he had lived in the years following his resignation in 2013.
In the New Year's Eve service on Saturday evening, Francis paid tribute to Benedict's ministry of faith and prayer.
Joseph Ratzinger - that's Benedikt's real name - is to be laid out in St. Peter's Basilica from Monday.
A funeral service and burial are planned for next Thursday.
Last Wednesday, during his general audience, Francis addressed the public about Benedict XVI's deteriorating health.
informed and asked for prayers for his "very ill" predecessor.
Francis recommends good intentions
In his homily on Sunday, on the occasion of the World Day for Peace, Francis went into particular detail about the victims of wars.
"Let us ask the Mother of God in a special way for the children who are suffering and no longer have the strength to pray, for the many brothers and sisters who are affected by war in large parts of the world," said the 86-year-old Argentine.
People would have spent the holidays in darkness and fear amidst violence and indifference.
As a good resolution for the New Year, Francis recommended not to look at world events lazily and indifferently, but to do good and “get your hands dirty”.
One cannot sit still and comfortably wait for things to get better.
mboe/dpa/AFP