On 4th January 2023, the Catholic Diocese of Ndola held mass to pray for the soul of pope emeritus Benedict XVI. Rt. Rev. DR. Benjamin Phiri celebrated this mass. Clergy, the religious brothers and sister and the laity from across the diocese all attended this mass that was held at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Brief History

The pope emeritus’s original name is Joseph Alois Ratzinger and was born April 16, 1927, Marktl am Inn, Germany and died December 31, 2022, Vatican City. Prior to his election as pope, Benedict led a distinguished career as a theologian and as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Today 5th January 2023, he will be put to rest in a traditional ceremony led by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
In line with Benedict’s wishes, his funeral will be “simple,” according to the director of the press office of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni. It will be the first occasion in modern times a pope has presided over his predecessor’s funeral.
Benedict’s coffin will then be transported through the Basilica and to the Vatican crypt for the burial, in the first tomb of John Paul II.
The tomb was vacated after John Paul II’s body and remains were moved to a chapel inside the Basilica after he became a saint.