Farewell to Benedict: Brass band Unterpfaffenhofen at the funeral service on St. Peter's Square
Created: 01/05/2023 11:42 am
By: Kathrin Böhmer
Members of the brass band of the Unterpfaffenhofen fire brigade and Mayor Andreas Haas (2nd from left).
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A delegation from Germering made its way to the funeral service for the retired Pope in Rome.
The musicians of the Unterpfaffenhofen fire brigade had already serenaded Benedict.
Germering/Rome
- Catholics around the world bid farewell to Pope Benedict Emeritus.
The funeral mass took place in Rome on Thursday, the former head of the church made his last journey in his coffin made of cypress wood.
Francis laid his hand on the coffin again and bowed.
A delegation from Germering also made its way to Rome on Wednesday.
The members of the brass band of the Unterpfaffenhofen fire brigade and Mayor Andreas Haas wanted to give the deceased Joseph Ratzinger the last goodbye.
They played a piece with their instruments on the way to St. Peter's Square, where the faithful of the world had gathered.
Sounds from home moved in the direction of the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, where the corpse of the Pope from Upper Bavaria was laid out.
The instruments parked on the chairs: the members of the music band on St. Peter's Square.
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The journey had a very special meaning for the Germeringers.
After all, they were allowed to serenade him in Rome on the 65th anniversary of his ordination in 2016.
The official celebration took place in the Vatican, with Pope Francis and Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Prefect Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller.
Among the guests were many visitors from Traunstein, the former place of residence of the Pope.
Joseph Ratzinger, the Pope who resigned for health reasons, died on New Year's Eve at the age of 95.
At the funeral service for the late Pope Benedict XVI.
According to estimates by the Vatican Gendarmerie, around 50,000 believers took part in St. Peter's Square.
This was announced by the press room of the Holy See on Thursday.