The Vatican has painstakingly elaborate rituals for what happens after a reigning pope dies but no publicly known ones for a former pope.
After Benedict dies, the Vatican will be at least partially scripting new protocols. They could be a template for other popes who choose to resign instead of ruling for life, including Pope Francis himself someday, Vatican sources say.
Vatican officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss such matters, said the script for Benedict's passing would depend on two key elements: If Benedict himself left any instructions and decisions that will be taken by Pope Francis.
He was first buried in crypts under St. Peter's Basilica and moved in 2011 to a chapel on the main level of the largest church in Christendom.succeeded John Paul in 2005 an resigned in 2013In 2020, Benedict's authorised biographer, Peter Seewald, was quoted as telling Bavarian newspaper Passauer Neue Presse that the emeritus pope had prepared a spiritual testament stating that he wanted to be buried in the same crypt where John Paul II was originally laid to rest.
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