A steady stream of tens of thousands of people packed St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Monday to pay their respects to pope emeritus Benedict XVI at the start of the wake ahead of his funeral this week.
Benedict XVI died last Saturday (31), aged 95, in the isolated Vatican monastery, where he had lived since his resignation in 2013.
“I feel like he was a grandfather to us,” Veronica Siegal, 16, a Catholic high school student from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who is in Rome for a religious study program, told Reuters. .
Security has been tightened, with visitors passing through several checkpoints before entering the basilica. Many stopped to pray after seeing the body or stayed to attend mass in the side chapels.
Vatican police said that in the first five hours, 40,000 people passed through the site.
Benedict’s body, clad in red and gold liturgical vestments, was carried in procession just before dawn through the Vatican Gardens, from the monastery to a spot in front of the main altar of Christendom’s largest church.
Before the Church opened to the public, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni were the first visitors to pay their respects.
Bento’s body will remain at the site until Wednesday (4th) night. His funeral will be held on Thursday (5), in St. Peter’s Square, and will be presided over by Pope Francis. The Vatican has said it will be a simple, solemn and sober ceremony, in line with Benedict XVI’s wishes.
The Vatican has elaborate rituals for what happens after a pope dies, but none for a pope emeritus. So what happens in the next few days could become a model for future ex-popes.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
