Prince William Tribute paid to the end Pope Francis with the Catholic chief Vatican City funeral Saturday, April 26.
The Prince of Wales, 42, represented the British royal family and his father, King Charlesduring the ceremony, which also attended by other RoyalsForeign dignitaries and religious leaders from around the world, including the president Donald Trump And more.
As a heir, Charles represented his mother, Queen ElizabethAt the 2005 funeral of Pope John Paul II. In fact, these funerals forced the Royal to repel his marriage Queen Camilla One day so that he and others can attend.
The late Queen Elizabeth never attended a funeral service for a pope, despite the fact that four – Pius XII, Jean XXII, Paul VI and Jean -Paul I – died during his reign of 70 years.
Person of the British royal family attended the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benoît XVI.
The participation of Prince William in the funeral is the last example of the Prince of Wales which takes more royal tasks more senior as a heir to the throne. He also represented the British monarchy at The reopening of the emblematic cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris December 7.
In relation: What happens after the death of Pope Francis?
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Prince William (center) arrives at Pope Francis funeral
King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, met Pope Francis Only 12 days before his death on April 9. The royal couple was visiting state in Italy at the time, and although their original plans to meet the church chief were canceled due to their recent health setbacks, they were able to meet briefly in private. Gifts were exchanged and the pope wished the king and the queen a happy 20th wedding anniversary, which fell the same day as their meeting.
After the news of the pontiff on Easter Monday, the king published an official statement via the Buckingham Palace.
“My wife and I were very deeply saddened to learn the death of Pope Francis,” said the monarch. “Our heavy hearts have been somewhat attenuated, however, that His Holiness was able to share an Easter greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and his ministry.”
“His holiness will remain in the memories for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all peoples of faith, and for those of the good will who work for the benefit of others,” continued King Charles. “His conviction that the care of creation is an existential expression of faith in God resonated with so many people around the world. Thanks to his work and his care for people and the planet, he deeply touched the lives of so many people. ”
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Prince William at the funeral of Pope Francis
The British monarch has also recalled his numerous visits to Pope Francis over the years, adding: “We have been highly moved for having been able to visit him earlier in the month.” The first planned audience of the king and the queen with his holiness was canceled due to the health difficulties of the Pope. A few weeks earlier, he spent 28 days in hospital in the midst of treatment for double pneumonia.
A few days before entering the hospital, Pope Francis thought about old age and the “consoling certainty” of death in the preface to Waiting for a new start: reflections on old age By Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop Emeritus of Milan.
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“Saying” old “does not mean” being rejected “, because a degraded culture of waste sometimes leads us to think”, wrote Francis. “Saying” old “means saying experience, wisdom, knowledge, discernment, reflection, listening, slowness.”
“It is true, one Becomes Old, but this is not the problem: the problem is How one Becomes Old. If we live this Time of Life as a grace, and not with resentment; if we accepted the time (Even a long one) in Which we experienced decrease Longer what they were in our youth-with a sense of gratitude and thatkfulness-well then, old age too becomes an age of life that … is truly fruitful and capable of radiant of goodness “, he added.
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