Archbishop Georg Gänswein (right), the longtime personal secretary for Benedict XVI, kneels to kiss the book of the Gospels atop the coffin of the pope emeritus on Jan. 5, 2023, in St. Peter’s Square / Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Vatican City, Jan 5, 2023 / 08:35 am (CNA).
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, one of the foremost theologians of the 20th century and the first pontiff in nearly 600 years to resign from the papacy, was laid to rest Thursday following a funeral Mass attended by tens of thousands of people.
Here are scenes from the funeral, held outside in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on a cold, foggy morning in Rome:
On a foggy morning in Rome, pilgrims make their way to St. Peter’s Square on Jan. 5, 2023 for the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
The coffin of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is carried into St. Peter’s Square prior to his funeral Mass on Jan. 5, 2023. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI before his funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Jan. 5, 2023. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Cardinals seated in St. Peter’s Square on Jan. 5, 2023 for the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Archbishop Georg Gänswein (right), the longtime personal secretary for Benedict XVI, kneels to kiss the book of the Gospels atop the coffin of the pope emeritus on Jan. 5, 2023, in St. Peter’s Square. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Cardinal Joseph Zen, former bishop of Hong Hong, attends the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Jan. 5, 2023, in St. Peter’s Square. Credit: Diane Montagna
Cardinal Joseph Zen, former bishop of Hong Hong (second from left), attends the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Jan. 5, 2023, in St. Peter’s Square. Alan Koppschall/EWTNPope Francis delivers the homily at the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Square on Jan. 5, 2023. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
The coffin of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is incensed during his funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Jan. 5, 2023, as Pope Francis looks on. Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Pilgrims from Bavaria pose at St. Peter’s Square where the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a native Bavarian, took place on Jan. 5, 2023. Courtney Mares/CNA
The funeral for Pope Benedict XVI on Jan. 5, 2023, at the Vatican. Vatican Media
Archbishop Georg Ganswein (left), longtime personal secretary of Pope Benedict XVI, kisses the coffin of friend and mentor at his funeral on Jan. 5, 2023, at the Vatican. Vatican Media
Cardinals attend the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI on Jan. 5, 2023. Vatican Media
The coffin of Pope Benedict XVI is carried at his funeral Mass on Jan. 5, 2023, at the Vatican. Vatican Media
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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 22, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).
A Canadian non-profit filed a legal challenge against the federal government, calling for an expansion of the country’s euthanasia program to allow physicia… […]
Gold medalist Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses for photographers with his medal at the presentation ceremony for the men’s singles tennis event on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Stadium during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Aug. 4, 2024. / Credit: Miguel Medina/AFP /Getty Images
CNA Staff, Aug 6, 2024 / 14:15 pm (CNA).
Novak Djokovic on Sunday became the first tennis player in a dozen years, male or female, to complete a tennis “Golden Slam,” winning all four major annual tournaments and an Olympic gold medal.
The 37-year-old Serb, considered by many the greatest male tennis player in history, defeated the young Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz to win the gold at the Paris Olympics.
Many Catholics took note of the fact that an elated Djokovic made the sign of the cross several times after winning the match — but you may also have noticed that he did the sign of the cross from right to left, rather than the typical Catholic left to right.
Novak Djokovic, a devout Orthodox Christian, gets down on his hands and knees to thank God after his victory at the Paris Olympics. ✝️🥇
The Serbian tennis champion, has won his first Olympic gold medal, after competing in 5 separate Olympic Games. pic.twitter.com/shsTXXu3MK
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the very earliest Christian practice appears to be the tracing of the sign of the cross of one’s forehead, which later evolved into the practice of making a sign of the cross across a larger portion of the body. St. Basil (329–379) wrote that the apostles “taught us to mark with the sign of the cross those who put their hope in the Lord.”
When Catholics do the sign of the cross today, they cross themselves with their hand starting at the top, going down, and then from left to right. When Orthodox Christians do the sign of the cross, they start at the top, go down, and then from right to left.
Many Orthodox sources say part of the reason that the sign of the cross is done in this direction is because during the Orthodox Divine Liturgy — the equivalent of the Mass — the Orthodox priest does the sign of the cross from left to right, facing the people, who copy his movements in mirror image. That said, the exact reasons for the differences are ancient and not entirely clear even to the Orthodox themselves.
There’s another level of meaning in the Orthodox sign of the cross, though, that is more readily documented. The Orthodox hold their hand with the index and middle fingers and thumb together, a symbol of the three persons of the Holy Trinity — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — together as one God. The two fingers, ring and pinky, that remain down symbolize the two natures of Jesus: fully human and fully divine.
Novak Djokovic warms up before a match at Wimbledon in 2013. Credit: Jonah McKeown
Djokovic’s Christian history
Djokovic was brought up in the Serbian Orthodox Church, which claims the majority of the country’s citizens and several million members worldwide. He grew up during a tumultuous time in the region and survived the wars between the Yugoslavian states.
In 2011, Djokovic was awarded the Serbian Orthodox Church’s highest honor “for his active love toward Mother Church, particularly fervent and persistent helping [of] the Serbian people and the sanctuaries of our Holy Church.”
He has donated several million dollars to the Serbian public health system and to charities run by the Serbian Orthodox Church.
“This is the most important title of my life, because before being an athlete, I am an Orthodox Christian,” he said upon receiving the award.
Despite Djokovic’s frequent displays of a cross necklace, performance of the sign of the cross, and talk of God, a 2015 biography of Djokovic opined that “[i]t would wrong to suggest that he is devoutly religious, but the ritualistic role the church plays in the life of Serbia is sufficiently strong that it is very much a part of his life.”
Still, the tennis champ has shown himself to be a person animated by love of neighbor. He runs the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which primarily focuses on rebuilding preschools and supporting teachers and parents of young schoolchildren. And in 2017, he opened a restaurant in Serbia that provides free food to the homeless.
Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez. / Credit: InterMirifica.net
CNA Staff, Jul 16, 2024 / 12:20 pm (CNA).
A Mexican archbishop emeritus is imploring Pope Francis not to ban the Traditional Latin Mass amid rumors that the Vatican is moving to furthe… […]
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