VATICAN CITY
\nThousands of Catholics paid their respects Monday to former pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, at the start of three days of lying-in-state at St. Peter\u2019s Basilica before his funeral.
\nThey began queueing before dawn to view the German theologian\u2019s body, which was transferred early Monday from the monastery in the Vatican grounds where he died Saturday aged 95.
\n\u201cI arrived at 6:00 am, it seemed normal to come and pay homage to him after all he did for the church,\u201d said an Italian nun, sister Anna-Maria, near the front of the queue that snaked around the edge of the vast St. Peter\u2019s Square.
\nBenedict led the Catholic Church for eight years before becoming the first pope in six centuries to step down in 2013, citing his declining and physical health.
\nHis successor Pope Francis will lead the funeral on Thursday in St. Peter\u2019s Square before his remains are placed in the tombs beneath the basilica.
\nBenedict\u2019s body was laid out Monday on a catafalque draped in gold fabric in front of the altar of the church, flanked by two Swiss Guards.<\/p>\n
Many of those filing past took pictures on their smartphones of the body, which was dressed in red papal mourning robes with a gold-edged mitre on his head, while some prayed or made the sign of the cross.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe atmosphere is very intimate,\u201d Francesca Gabrielli, a pilgrim from Tuscany in central Italy, said inside the basilica.<\/p>\n
She said Benedict was \u201ca great pope, profound, unique.\u201d<\/p>\n
Benedict died at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, which had been his home for the past decade, his last words in the early hours of Saturday said by the Vatican to have been \u201cLord, I love you!\u201d<\/p>\n
His body will lie in state for three days, with members of the public allowed in during the day, before a funeral on Thursday that will break new ground.<\/p>\n
Benedict\u2019s shock resignation created the extraordinary situation of having two \u201cmen in white\u201d \u2014 him and Francis \u2014 at the Vatican.<\/p>\n
Papal deaths usually trigger the calling of a conclave of cardinals to elect a successor, but this time Francis remains in post, and will lead proceedings.<\/p>\n
The Vatican has yet to release details of the guest list, beyond saying that it will include delegations from Italy and Benedict\u2019s native Germany.<\/p>\n
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who at the weekend joined world leaders from Joe Biden to Vladimir Putin in paying tribute to Benedict, was among the first to visit his body on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
She was greeted by Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, Benedict\u2019s long-time aide.<\/p>\n
The last papal funeral, of John Paul II in 2005, drew a million faithful and heads of state from around the world, although Benedict was a more divisive figure.<\/p>\n
A brilliant theologian, he alienated many Catholics with his staunch defense of traditional values and as pope struggled to impose his authority on the church as it battled a string of crises, including over clerical sex abuse.<\/p>\n
His successor cuts a very different figure, an Argentine Jesuit who is most at home among his flock and has sought to forge a more compassionate church.<\/p>\n
Pope Francis paid tribute to Benedict in three New Year\u2019s events at the Vatican over the weekend, \u201cthanking God for the gift of this faithful servant of the Gospel and of the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n
Francis, 86, has raised the prospect that he might follow Benedict\u2019s example and step down if he became unable to carry out his duties.<\/p>\n
In July, suffering knee problems that have forced him to rely on a wheelchair, he admitted he needed to slow down or think about stepping aside.<\/p>\n
Last month, Francis revealed he had signed a resignation letter when he took office should poor health prevent him from carrying out his duties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
VATICAN CITY Thousands of Catholics paid their respects Monday to former pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, at the start of three days of lying-in-state at St. Peter\u2019s Basilica before his funeral. They began queueing before dawn to view the German theologian\u2019s body, which was transferred early Monday from the monastery in the Vatican grounds […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-305108","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n