On January 5, the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI of Rome who died on December 31, 2022, took place in Rome. With a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the funeral events were attended by the Chairmen of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk. The DECR Chairman was accompanied by I. A. Nikolayev, a staff member of the DECR secretariat for inter-Christian relations. In the evening of January the 4th, Metropolitan Anthony visited the St. Peter’s Cathedral at the Vatican where the final respects were paid to the late Pontiff.

On January 5, the DECR Chairman attended the Requiem Mass presided over by Pope Francis of Rome. In conclusion of the Mass, the body of Benedict XVI was carried to the crypt of the St. Peter’s Cathedral to be buried there. After the service, Metropolitan Anthony presented Pope Francis a message of condolences from the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. In his turn, the head of the Roman Catholic Church conveyed his best wishes to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill greeting His Holiness on the approaching feast of the Nativity of Christ.

The DECR Chairman had a talk with the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude Tikhon, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, and contacts with representatives of Local Orthodox Churches and hierarchs of the Roman Catholic Church. (Quelle: www.mospat.ru, 5. Januar 2023)