Vatican City – Thousands of believers paid their respects to the late Pope Benedict. In front of the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, the faithful had already queued up to see the body of the Pope, which was put on public display yesterday. The public visit was from 9 am to 10 am yesterday. Public darshan will be allowed for 12 hours each today and tomorrow. The burial service will begin on Thursday at 9 am (2 pm IST) with Pope Francis officiating. Pope Benedict will be buried in St. Peter’s Basilica next to the tomb where Pope John Paul II was originally buried, as Pope Benedict had wanted.
The body of Pope Benedict was taken from the chapel of the monastery where he abdicated in 2013 and led a life of retirement yesterday morning in a circumambulation to St. Peter’s Basilica and placed on the pew in front of the main altar. There were no insignia except that each side was escorted by a Swiss Guard. The body, clothed in red and gold, did not have the papal insignia.
English Summary: Thousands pay respect to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
