Silence replaces eulogy at Wesolowski funeral

Eight minutes of silence instead of a homily marked the Vatican funeral on Monday of Jozef Wesolowski, the former Vatican nuncio to the Dominican Republic, write James Roberts and Josef Pazderka. Wesolowski, who was awaiting trial on charges of possessing child pornography and abusing minors, died in his room at the Vatican on the night of 27 August. An autopsy report cited natural causes.

Vatican spokesman Fr Ciro Benedettini said time for silent reflection followed the Gospel reading at the funeral. Cameras were banned during the service, in which a ritual prayer was recited that God might “cancel the sins that [Wesolowski] had committed with human fragility”.
Burial will be in Wesolowski’s native Poland.