much for joining our special live coverage of the funeral of pope americas benedict the 16th. thousands of people are gathered in st. peters square right now. to witness something we have not seen in hundreds of years. the current pope, presiding at the funeral mass of the man who proceeded him. the coffin carrying the body of benedict was taken from st. peters basilica a short time ago through its journey to the courtyard, allowing the faithful to say their prayers ahead of the funeral. matt joseph rat singer, the son of humble parents, a police officer and cook. entered the priesthood in what would appear to be his calling as a university professor, teaching philosophy and theology. also beginning what would be a prolific and deeply intellectual pursuit as a writer. that very skill as a theologian led to his appointment as the archbishop of munich by pope john paul the second. the man he would not just succeed but also the man he would serve for nearly a quarter century as
joseph rat center is the last great figure of the second vatican council. as a young theologians. he was one of the three most important intellectual figures out of the council. with john paul the second. he gave the council an authoritative interpretation. and as we bid him farewell today, we are drawn the curtain on a remarkable era in the 2000-year history of the catholic church. and there is a profound sense of that here today and people wanting to say thank you to this man who gave so much for so long. and suffered because of it. so we will see pope francis presiding at this funeral mass. and he will preach the homily again. this is not a eulogy, it is something that is based on the readings of the gospel. you will hear much of.