Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, speaking from Brazil, has not yet made a decision about a possible trip to Rome to attend Benedict XVI’s funeral. The President explained, in statements broadcast on television, that the Pope Emeritus wanted a simple ceremony and not a large state funeral. The Holy See, he explained, placed as a starting point in the presence of the Heads of State the invitations to the German (Benedict XVI’s nationality) and Italian Head of State. As for the other heads of state and representations, it remains to be seen “how exactly to reconcile the will of Benedict XVI with the desire of some countries and heads of state to be” at the ceremony.
Benedict XVI died this Saturday, December 31. The funeral will take place on January 5 at the Vatican.
The funeral of Benedict XVI takes place on Thursday and will be presided over by Pope Francis
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who is in Brazil for the inauguration of Lula da Silva, will be in contact with other heads of state, namely the King of Spain and the President of Germany and, therefore, “there will be an opportunity between today and tomorrow to find out what the countries close to Portugal and the relationship with the Holy See will do”. Find out “what is the position of the countries and especially of the Holy See”.
It is already indicated that “if there is an extension of the criteria for other heads of state to travel, I will go to Rome, but I will not take the initiative before seeing what results from the steps in progress.”
Speaking in Brazil, the Portuguese president revealed that he sent the condolences of the Portuguese state and people to Pope Francis. And he speaks of Benedict XVI’s visit to Portugal as an “exceptional visit” and a “very successful visit”.
In 2010, Benedict XVI came to Portugal for the anniversary of the beatification of the little shepherds of Fatima and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa recalls the “great moment” that was the meeting with the world of culture, represented by the filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira.
“It was very emotional for those who attended that moment,” since “it was fundamental for the Pope and for the world of culture, Catholic or non-Catholic, to find bridges for dialogue in a world in transition between faith and reason.” .
That is also why Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa speaks of “the most successful visit of all” and “an exceptional visit, different from the normal pattern.”
In 2010, Benedict XVI visited Lisbon, Fátima and Porto. Remember your trip to Portugal here
For the president, Benedict XVI was a pope in transition “between two worlds and two times in which he lived intensely, first very close to his predecessor John Paul II, and then as pope emeritus accompanying his successor, Pope Francis.” Marcelo speaks of Benedict XVI as “a philosopher, a theologian, a thinker, an intellectual, a man of doctrine, and for this very reason marked by his academic career as a teacher who was and who never ceased to be and who privileged a fundamental aspect that It was, in addition to affirming the principles of the Catholic Church, the dialogue between faith and culture, faith and science. It was perhaps the most creative facet of his short, very short pontificate.
Profile. Benedict XVI, the rebel theologian who transformed the Church
Source: Observadora
