Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is laid to rest

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Pope Francis sits by the coffin of late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Peter's Square on Thursday. Associated Press/Photo by Alessandra Tarantino

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is laid to rest

Bells tolled across St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican this morning as pallbearers carried the cypress coffin of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Tens of thousands of state leaders, clergy, and lay faithful attended the Mass celebrated by Benedict's successor, Pope Francis. Benedict will be interred in the tomb underneath St. Peter’s Basilica. Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, who became pope in 2005 and took the name Benedict, died Saturday. He was 95.

How are Catholics elsewhere mourning? In Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, Catholics gathered at the cathedral for a requiem Mass for the late pontiff. A similar Mass also took place at the Malolos Cathedral in the Philippines. Portugal declared a national day of mourning, while Italy flew flags on public buildings at half-mast. In Germany, church bells rang out at 11 am to honor the former German pope’s memory.

Dig deeper: Read Ivan Mesa’s World Tour report on Pope Benedict XVI’s legacy.

Onize Ohikere

Onize is WORLD’s Africa reporter and deputy global desk chief. She is a World Journalism Institute graduate and earned a journalism degree from Minnesota State University–Moorhead. Onize resides in Abuja, Nigeria.

@onize_ohiks