What is a Papal Mass and why is one being performed for Pope Benedict XVI's funeral?

Pope Francis to eulogise his predecessor and ‘Two Popes’ friend in the historic funeral ceremony

The body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lies in state in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Getty Images

Nuns arrive at dawn to view the body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as it lies in state. AP

Mourners queue in St Peter's Square. Reuters

Mourners enter St Peter's Basilica. AP

The queue in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. AP

The faithful leave St Peter's Basilica after paying their respects to the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. EPA

Mourners at St Peter's Basilica. Getty Images

St Peter's Square at the Vatican before visitors arrive to pay homage to the late pope. AP

Pope Benedict XVI will be given a grand farewell at the Vatican in what is set to be a Papal Mass unlike any other in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

In 2013, the Pope Emeritus became the first pontiff to resign from office in 600 years. At the time, he said he had made the decision because, as the modern world was changing rapidly, someone of his age and era was “no longer suited” for the job.

As a result, his funeral Mass at the Vatican on Thursday will be unique: For the first time, a sitting pope will preside over a Papal Mass for his predecessor in an occasion that will be live-streamed to viewers around the world.

What is a Papal Mass?

A Papal Mass is a Solemn Pontifical High Mass presided over by the pope. It happens on several occasions throughout the church’s calendar, including at Easter, Christmas and on other major feast days.

It also takes place for a papal coronation, the canonisation of a saint and an ex cathedra pronouncement — in other words, a major church announcement.

Following the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s, several vestments and parts of Papal Masses were discontinued. However, Benedict revived some of these traditions such as the playing of the Papal Anthem on brass instruments from inside St Peter’s Basilica to announce his arrival.

The majority of Papal Masses are said in Latin, the official language of the Catholic Church. While Benedict always said key components of the Mass in Latin, Pope Francis says them in Italian.

Pope Francis, left, with his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI, right. The Pope will eulogise his friend at his funeral Mass on Thursday. AP

Other elements of such Masses have changed through the decades. For example, in former times, only the pope, the deacon and the subdeacon received Holy Communion. In modern Papal Masses, many worshippers can receive the Eucharist, some from the pope himself.

Benedict, known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in his pre-Vatican days, was renowned for his theological knowledge as well as for his eloquent speeches.

Pope Francis will eulogise his predecessor at the funeral, which the Vatican has said will be marked by the simplicity that Benedict requested.

The theologian died last Saturday, four days after the current pontiff had asked congregants at a Mass to pray for his “very sick” predecessor.

Benedict's body is lying in state at St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, which thousands of mourners have visited since Monday.

Vatican officials said they expected up to 100,000 people to pass through the basilica to pay their respects.

Many of the world’s 1.3 billion Christians are expected to watch the historic funeral Mass on TV on Thursday at 9.30am Vatican time (8.30am UK time).

After the Mass, the German-born former pope will be buried in the crypt under St Peter’s Basilica.

Who will be in attendance?

Since Benedict was no longer head of the Vatican City State, his funeral Mass will carry different protocol compared to funerals of reigning popes.

Only two countries — Italy and his native Germany — will send official delegations, according to the Vatican.

Instead, politicians and members of royal families around the world, especially of predominantly Catholic countries, will attend in a private manner.

The process also differs greatly to that seen in recent times, as there is no need to elect a new pontiff, and visiting cardinals will not have to remain in Rome for any election process.

Pope Francis has largely conducted business as usual since his predecessor died.

On Tuesday, he met the cardinal who heads the Italian bishops’ conference and bid farewell to South Korea’s ambassador to the Holy See in a courtesy visit.

The pontiff also greeted a delegation of an organisation promoting brotherhood and appointed new papal envoys to Uruguay and the UAE.

Pope Benedict XVI — in pictures

Joseph Ratzinger as a schoolboy in Aschau am Inn in 1932. AFP

Joseph Ratzinger, 10, with classmates in Aschau am Inn, Bavaria, where he went to school from 1932 to 1937. AFP

Joseph Ratzinger as a German Air Force assistant in 1943. AFP

Ratzinger, right, and his brother Georg, left, after their ordination in 1951 with his sister Maria, his mother Maria and his father Josef. AFP

Ratzinger during an open-air mass in 1952. AFP

Joseph Ratzinger, a professor of theology, with Cologne's Cardinal Joseph Frings, who took him to the council at the Vatican as an adviser in the early 1960s. AFP

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 1977 in Vatican City. AFP

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger with Mother Teresa at the 85th German Catholics Days in Freiburg in September 1978. AFP

Archbishop of Munich and Freising Josef Ratzinger, right, bids farewell to Munich to become Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican. AFP

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 1994 signing an autograph during the 1,240th anniversary of the city of Fulda, Germany. AFP

Cardinal Ratzinger, centre, his brother Georg, the Kapellmeister of the Cathedral of Regensburg, and their sister Maria Ratzinger in Munich. AFP

Cardinal Ratzinger, centre, arrives to lead the funeral mass for Pope John Paul II in St Peter's Square at the Vatican City in 2005. AFP

Joseph Ratzinger, the new Pope Benedict XVI, after being elected the 265th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, April 19, 2005. AFP

Pope Benedict XVI on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican after being elected by the conclave of cardinals. AFP

Pope Benedict XVI at the traditional weekly general audience in St Peter's square at the Vatican, December 7, 2005. AFP

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, December 25, 2007. Reuters

Pope Benedict greets Abdul Aziz al-Ghurair, speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates, at the Vatican, October 22, 2008. Reuters

Pope Benedict is welcomed by Jordan's King Abdullah and his wife Queen Rania at Amman airport, May 8, 2009. Reuters

Pope Benedict in front of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem's Old City, May 12, 2009. Reuters

Pope Benedict and Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah during a private meeting at the Vatican, May 6, 2010. Reuters

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip with the Pope at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, September 16, 2010. Reuters

Pope Benedict arrives in Havana, Cuba, March 27, 2012. AFP

Pope Benedict XVI arrives for a meeting with youths at Bkerke in Harissa, near Beirut, September 15, 2012. Reuters

A mass held by Pope Benedict in Beirut, September 16, 2012. Reuters

On February 11, 2013, Pope Benedict announced that he would resign on February 28, the first pope in centuries to do so. AFP

The former pope arrives for the canonisation ceremony of popes John XXIII and John Paul II at the Vatican, April 27, 2014. Reuters

Emeritus Pope Benedict, left, as Pope Francis arrives to lead a mass to create 20 new cardinals, February 14, 2015. Reuters

Pope Francis, left, with Benedict at the Vatican, June 28, 2017. AFP

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at Munich Airport before his departure to Rome, June 22, 2020. Reuters