Pope Benedict XVI: Lying in state at the Vatican begins - BBC

Tens of thousands of radical are expected to wage their respects to erstwhile Pope Benedict XVI erstwhile his lying successful authorities begins astatine the Vatican later.

Pope Francis volition preside implicit Thursday's ceremonial - the archetypal clip a Pope volition beryllium buried by his successor.

As dawn broke implicit the Vatican, a queue was already forming astatine the borderline of St Peter's Square.

At the precise beforehand was Father Alfredo Elnar, 30, from the Philippines. He said helium had studied and admired the theological writings of the erstwhile pontiff, and spoke of an emptiness since his death.

A small further back, Sister Marianna Patricevic, a nun from Croatia, talked of however grateful she was for each the precocious pope had done - saying determination was not a taxable she studied astatine assemblage wherever they did not sermon his views.

Father Richard Kunst, visiting from the US, said erstwhile helium passes the Pope's body, helium would commune for him - but besides for a occurrence to assistance a person astatine location who is dying of cancer.

Benedict XVI became the archetypal Pope to resign successful 600 years successful 2013, citing ailing health.

His assemblage volition beryllium displayed for 3 days successful an unfastened casket astatine St Peter's Basilica, with radical allowed to wage their respects until 7pm each evening.

The ceremonial volition instrumentality spot successful St Peter's Square, earlier the Pope Emeritus is laid to remainder successful the tombs beneath the Basilica.

The Vatican released pictures of the assemblage connected Sunday, dressed successful reddish papal mourning robes and wearing a gold-trimmed mitre.

Tributes person poured successful from astir the world, and the ceremonial is expected to gully crowds of thousands.

The past papal funeral, that of Pope John Paul II successful 2005, was 1 of the largest Christian gatherings successful history, and drew an estimated 4 cardinal radical to Rome.

Benedict asked that the ceremonial beryllium marked by simplicity, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni told journalists.

Details of the impermanent database person not been released, but the Vatican has said that it volition see delegations from Italy and Benedict's autochthonal Germany.

US President Joe Biden lauded the erstwhile Pope's "lifetime of devotion to the Church", portion Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed him arsenic "a large antheral whom past volition not forget".

In Brazil - the largest Catholic federation successful the satellite - incoming President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said helium wished "comfort to the faithful and admirers of the Holy Father".

Pope Benedict was a arguable figure, and immoderate person criticised him for failing to tackle allegations of clerical intersexual abuse.