Pope Francis praises Benedict as Vatican prepares for funeral - Reuters

VATICAN CITY, Jan 4 (Reuters) - The Vatican connected Wednesday served up a surreal infinitesimal successful which a surviving pope spoke to immoderate of the faithful successful 1 portion of the tiny city-state portion others a abbreviated region mode were honouring a deceased erstwhile pontiff.

Pope Francis held his wide assemblage successful a ample modern hall, a regular lawsuit for a Wednesday.

"I would similar america to articulation with those present beside america who are paying their respects to Benedict XVI," Francis told respective 1000 radical astatine the commencement of his audience, successful which helium is concluding a catechesis, oregon spiritual teaching.

Francis, 86, who volition preside astatine Benedict's ceremonial connected Thursday, called his predecessor "a large maestro of catechesis."

Benedict, a towering theologian and leader to blimpish Catholics uncomfortable with Francis' much progressive papacy, successful 2013 became the archetypal pope successful 600 years to resign alternatively of reigning for life.

At astir the aforesaid clip arsenic Francis was speaking and lone respective twelve metres (yards) away, the large doors of St. Peter's Basilica were being opened to the nationalist for the 3rd and past time of nationalist viewing of Benedict's body.

As of Tuesday night, astir 135,000 radical had filed past the erstwhile pope, who has been lying successful authorities without immoderate papal regalia connected a catafalque, a raised bier, earlier the basilica's main altar.

The determination not to person them during the nationalist viewing appeared to person been decided to underscore that helium nary longer was pope erstwhile helium died past Saturday astatine the property of 95.

The viewing is owed to extremity astatine 7 p.m. connected Wednesday and soon afterwards Benedict's assemblage volition beryllium placed successful a coffin made of cypress wood.

With him volition beryllium coins and medals minted during his 8 years arsenic pope and a sealed pb conduit holding a deed written successful Latin describing his pontificate - each customary for funerals of popes.

Also placed wrong volition beryllium 3 palliums - bands of wool cloth worn astir the cervix by popes, archdiocesan bishops and different bishops with territorial jurisdiction, to signify their roles arsenic shepherds of their flocks. Popes are besides bishops of Rome.

The coffin volition beryllium placed connected the crushed adjacent the extracurricular steps of St. Peter's Basilica and the faithful volition accidental the rosary earlier the ceremonial Mass begins.

Benedict had near connection that helium wanted his ceremonial to beryllium simple.

The liturgy for the Mass volition beryllium based mostly connected that for a reigning pope, with immoderate insignificant modifications, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said.

Some prayers that are circumstantial to the decease of reigning pope volition beryllium omitted but determination volition beryllium prayers for some Benedict and Francis, helium said.

In a backstage work aft the funeral, the cypress coffin volition beryllium volition beryllium placed into a zinc coffin and sealed and past some volition beryllium placed into different coffin made of wood, according to contented for the burial of a pope.

Benedict volition beryllium buried according to his wishes successful the aforesaid spot successful the crypts nether St. Peter's Basilica wherever Pope John Paul II was primitively interred successful 2005 earlier his assemblage was moved up to a chapel successful the basilica successful 2011.

Reporting by Philip Pullella

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