Funeral intrigue in the Vatican: the incredible story of how Pope Francis reserved for himself the grave that Benedict XVI wants

Julio Algañaraz

08/04/2020 - 12:28

• Clarín.com
• World

They are two tombs for two popes that are ready to receive their future occupants in the Vatican Grottos, near the remains of Saint Peter. The problem is that the two living pontiffs, the emeritus Benedict XVI , Joseph Ratzinger, and the reigning Francis , Jorge Bergoglio, prefer the same one : the tomb where Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II lay, whose remains were moved upstairs, to the basilica, next to the main altar, in two chapels that receive the veneration of the faithful who visit San Pedro.

Both were the most popular popes of the 20th century, they left a historical mark and the current pontiff elevated them to sanctity in the same ceremony held in St. Peter's Basilica on April 27, 2014.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, 93, is in an extremely fragile state of health. He suffers from a herpes infection on his face that causes him severe pain. His brain and memory remain intact, but he speaks "with a thread of a voice", as told by his biographer Peter Seawald, who visited him a few days ago.

The Roman newspaper "Il Messaggero" published an article on the state of the German Pope on Tuesday and in its final part explains that Benedict XVI has already written a spiritual testament, leaving provisions to read and publish it after his death.

The newspaper notes that "Joseph Ratzinger has also established where he wants to be buried , indicating the former tomb of Saint John Paul II in the crypt of Saint Peter, left free after the urn with the remains of the Polish Pope were brought to the basilica after his beatification in the side chapel of La Piedad (the work of Miguel Angel), in the entrance area of ​​San Pedro ”.

The tomb that belonged to John XXIII and later John Paul II in the Vatican Grottoes today is free and ready to be used. / Photo: Victor Sokolowicz

A mysterious nameless sarcophagus

But this will of Benedict XVI would clash with the provisions made in March 2016 with the approval of Francisco. Then the works that a newspaper described as "mystery" and "curious news" concluded. It was the French agency I media, which reported that in the crypt of the Vatican Grottos, a new sarcophagus with no name and no writings was installed . "The new tomb was made a short distance from that of Blessed Paul VI and is similar in shape to that of John Paul I. who sat only 33 days in the Apostle Peter's Chair."

An unnamed sarcophagus. The tomb that would be destined for Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican Grottos./ Photo: Victor Sokolowicz

The information maintains that the remains of Benedict XVI "will go to the marble sarcophagus." Instead Francisco, when the fatal hour arrives, “to the grave that was of John Paul II.

The former deputy director of the Vatican newspaper "L'Osservatore Romano", Carlo Di Cicco, said that the tomb that will house the body of the current Argentine pontiff "is placed in the niche where for 38 years (from June 1963 to September 2000) they were guarded the remains of Juan XXIII. In the same tomb between 2005 and 2011 the body of John Paul II was placed.

The then deputy director of the "Osservatore Romano" wrote that "the tomb has been cleaned and the pavement is ready to receive the remains of a Pope." It refers to the tomb that housed the two saints.

The tomb that belonged to John XXIII and later John Paul II in the Vatican Grottos./ Photo: Victor Sokolowicz

Deputy Director De Cicco writes that "it is known that long ago Pope Francis asked the cardinal archpriest of the Basilica to leave that niche for him."

In March 2016, the French agency I-media, specialized in information on the Holy See, reported that the other grave was ready "for the next deceased Pope." "It will be the last dwelling place for one of the two living pontiffs, an exceptional situation in the history of Santa Romana Iglesia".

It is a parallelepiped of white marble "sober, with four angles of pink columns decorated with capitals".

The tomb that would be destined for Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican Grottos. A parallelepiped of white marble. / Photo: Victor Sokolowicz

The then director of the Press Room, Father Federico Lombardi, said that "there is no mystery behind the installation of this tomb."

“It is necessary to foresee that in the Vatican Grottos there will be tombs for future years. There was only one free chapel and therefore it was wise to foresee other possibilities as well. ”

The new locule was built near the one that preserves the remains of PabloVI.

In the Vatican Grottos, next to the remains of Saint Peter, are the tombs of some twenty Popes, / Photo: Victor Sokolowicz

In the Vatican Grottos, next to the remains of Saint Peter, are the tombs of some twenty Popes , among them Boniface VIII, Sixtus IV, Benedict XV, Pius XII, Paul VI and John Paul I.

The remains of eight other popes are found in St. Peter's Basilica.

In the Vatican Grottoes there are also other characters, among whom are the Catholic queens Cristina of Sweden and Carlotta I of Cyprus.

Vatican correspondent