Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella were among the Catholic faithfuls who queued up at the lying- in- state on Monday at Saint Peter’s Basilica to pay their last respect to the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
Fformer Pope Benedict XVI died, on Saturday at the age of 95. His lying-in-state began Monday in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City ahead of his funeral later this week.
Benedict was elected Pope in 2005 following the death of his predecessor, Pope John Paul 11.
He was the first pontiff in almost 600 years to resign his position, rather than hold office for life. He away on December 31 at a monastery in Vatican City, according to a statement from the Vatican.
Benedict’s funeral will be held at 9:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. ET) on Thursday in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, according to the director of the press office of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni. The funeral will be led by Pope Francis. In line with Benedict’s wishes, his funeral will be “simple,” Bruni said.