Uncertain response to former Pope’s death

Rex Martinich | December 31, 2022

A former Vatican press officer says she is “unsure” of how the epicentre of the Catholic faith will handle the first death of a former pope in more than 600 years.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy in February 2013, citing the effects of old age in his ability to meet the demands of the role. He died at the age of 95 on Saturday.

Benedict was the first pope to leave the office other than through death since Pope Gregory XII in the year 1415 and the first to voluntarily step down since Pope Celestine V in 1294.

Joanne Bergamin, who has now returned to living on the Gold Coast, worked in the Vatican City for the Holy See Press Office, L’Osservatore Romano official newspaper, Pontifical Swiss Guard and Office of Papal Charities between 2009 and 2015.

Mrs Bergamin became a Vatican citizen in 2014 after marrying her husband Dominic, who was a member of the Pope’s Swiss Guards. 

“I’m unsure what to expect in terms of a funeral ceremony for the Pope Emeritus, which must occur between four and six days after his passing,” Mrs Bergamin said.

“Some have speculated that it will be a smaller affair than the funeral of Pope John Paul II, but I hardly think that will be the case. Catholics from around the world will want to come and pay their respects to this pope who I believe will be declared a Doctor of the Church.” 

Mrs Bergamin said her time living and working in the Vatican for over a decade had allowed her to meet with Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis on various occasions, both official and informal, and found media reports about their different styes to be “unfair”.

“While Pope Benedict tired more easily with large crowds, Pope Francis gained energy from the masses. My personal experience with them both was always awe-filled,” Mrs Bergamin said. 

“Every time I met Pope Benedict, I felt like we were the only two people in the world, that he gave me 100 per cent of his love and attention in that moment, and his warmth burned through me.

“Even thinking about being in his presence brings me to tears. Everyone I know who has met Pope Benedict says the same thing. When I met Pope Francis for the first time, it was a joy-filled occasion but as he shook my hand he was looking over my shoulder at the next person in line, which is completely natural. They’re human too.”