President Ranil Wickremesinghe has given directives to fly the nationwide flag at half-mast tomorrow (Jan. 05) the least bit state institutions as a mark of respect to late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the earlier head of the Catholic Church.
Accordingly, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration has been requested to instruct all state institutions on this regard.
President Wickremesinghe visited the Embassy of the Holy See (Vatican Apostolic Nunciature) in Colombo this morning (Jan. 04) to particular his condolences on the demise of former head of the Catholic Church.
The earlier Pope Benedict XVI handed away on the age of 95 on December 31, 2022 on the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery throughout the Vatican Metropolis the place he spent his remaining years after stepping down in 2013 as a consequence of ailing effectively being.
Following his demise, the physique of the late Pope was moved to St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday (Jan. 02) and is lying in state there as lots of of individuals are gathering to bid farewell.
The funeral, presided over by Pope Francis, is scheduled to occur tomorrow morning at St. Peter’s Sq. throughout the Vatican Metropolis sooner than Pope Benedict XVI is laid to rest throughout the tombs beneath the basilica.
Benedict led the Catholic Church for decrease than eight years until, in 2013, he turned the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.
