Pope Francis prospects prayers to Benedict XVI as Catholics across the United kingdom pray at Mass products and services today 

Catholic worshippers across the United kingdom will pray for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at Mass providers on Sunday soon after he died aged 95.

Pope Francis led prayers for his late predecessor at the Vatican now at a Mass which also marked the commencing of the New Calendar year.

It will come soon after the Vatican introduced Benedict, the first pope in 600 a long time to resign from the job, died in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican at 9.34am on Saturday.

Francis seemed weary and sat with his head bowed as Mass started on the to start with day of the yr, owning arrived to St Peter’s Basilica in a wheelchair.

An array of planet leaders honoured Benedict’s legacy, with King Charles expressing his ‘deep sadness’ at his demise in a information to Francis, as the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, also paid out tribute. 

US president Joe Biden called Benedict an ‘inspiration to all’ and ‘a renowned theologian, with a life span of devotion to the Church, guided by his rules and faith’. 

Pope Francis retains a Mass for the solemnity of St. Mary at the beginning of the new yr, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at Munich airport ahead of his departure to Rome in 2020

Francis departed from his created homily this morning to pray aloud for Benedict, imploring the Virgin Mary to ‘accompany him in his passage to the hands’ of God.

The pontiff will direct Benedict’s funeral on Thursday in St Peter’s Sq..

That rite will be a uncomplicated a single, the Vatican has said, in maintaining with the needs of Benedict, who for many years as a German cardinal had served as the Church’s guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy in advance of he was elected pope in 2005.

In the meantime, a spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales verified that Catholics up and down the Uk will be praying for Benedict on Sunday.

Its common secretary, the Reverend Canon Chris Thomas, reported: ‘We encourage Catholics in England and Wales to hold Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in their prayers.’

Benedict became the 2nd pontiff in background to pay a visit to the United kingdom in 2010 when he met the Queen and created a historic tackle at Westminster Corridor.

His funeral will get spot at 8.30am Uk time on Thursday, in St Peter’s Square, Vatican City, presided over by Francis, who succeeded Benedict as pope in 2013.

From Monday, his entire body will be in Saint Peter’s Basilica so the worshippers can pay out their respects.

Pope Francis comes to keep a Mass for the solemnity of St. Mary at the starting of the new year, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023

Pope Francis comes to celebrate Mass to mark the Entire world Day of Peace in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, January 1, 2023

Queen Elizabeth II talks with Pope Benedict XVI trade gifts through an audience in the Morning Drawing Space at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, September 2010

Previous pope Benedict, 95, appears on as he receives the winners of the ‘Premio Ratzinger’ at the Vatican, December 1, 2022

Talking on Saturday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, reported he needs Catholic churches in the Uk to ‘echo the funeral Mass’ with their very own ceremonies on Thursday.

Featuring text of comfort to British isles Catholics, he extra: ‘We attract power and convenience from our faith when any individual dies and when it is really the pope that dies it is the exact same story, it truly is the very same prayers.

‘We commend them to God and we thank God for the great presents of their life and particularly of his everyday living.’

He extra: ‘I was consoled by a comment I listened to that somebody experienced manufactured in Rome a pair of days in the past, the place they place it rather fantastically – they said, ‘The angels are accumulating, they are coming to choose him home’.’

In a assertion, Charles paid tribute to Benedict and recalled visiting him at the Vatican in 2009.

He stated: ‘I recall with fondness my meeting with His Holiness during my stop by to the Vatican in 2009. His stop by to the United Kingdom in 2010 was vital in strengthening the relations concerning the Holy See and the United Kingdom.

‘I also remember his frequent efforts to boost peace and goodwill to all individuals, and to strengthen the romance concerning the global Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.’ 

Pope Francis is seated as he prepares to preside around the company marking the World Working day of Peace at St Peter’s Basilica, in The Vatican on January 1, 2023. – Pope Francis will tackle the Catholic faithful on January 1, 2023, at the Vatican, the day soon after the death of his predecessor Benedict XVI at the age of 95

Pope Francis (ideal) keep palms with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as he pays him a take a look at at the Vatican in November 2020

FILE – Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger presents a e-book with the paperwork issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith throughout a press meeting at the Vatican on Dec. 12, 1985. Ratzinger went on to turn into Pope Benedict XVI

Joseph Ratzinger was elected as the 265th pope on April 19 2005, aged 78, and chose the identify Benedict.

He served right up until February 2013 ahead of turning out to be the initially pope in 600 several years to resign, citing his outdated age and declining overall health.

Mr Welby hailed Benedict as ‘one of the greatest theologians of his age’.

In a statement, he claimed Benedict was ‘committed to the religion of the Church and stalwart in its defence’.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wrote on Twitter: ‘I am saddened to learn of the demise of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

‘He was a good theologian whose Uk visit in 2010 was a historic moment for both equally Catholics and non-Catholics throughout our nation.’

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer reported: ‘His condition go to in 2010 was a historic and joyous second for Catholics in Britain.’