News Desk
ISLAMABAD/VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI, who passed away on New Year’s Eve at 95, will be laid to rest on Thursday (today) at St Peter’s Basilica.
Around 200,000 people paid their homage to former the Pope during his lying in state over the last three days, the Vatican said in a statement.
Pope Benedict’s funeral
Pope Benedict XVI’s body had been sealed in a coffin ahead of his final ritual and funeral.
The current Catholic Pope, Francis, will preside over the funeral of his predecessor. This is the first time that a sitting Pope will lead his predecessor’s funeral in more than 220 years.
Pope Benedict XVI on December 31 almost a decade after he stood down owing to his ill health.
Scores of mourners are expected to attend the funeral of the late Pope in St Peter’s Square, just in front of St Peter’s Basilica at 9:30 local time.
The funeral will be marked by simplicity, in line with the wishes of Benedict, the Vatican said.
According to the BBC, only official delegations from Italy and Benedict’s native Germany will attend the funeral while other will leaders will attend the final ritual in unofficial capacities.
Belgium’s King Philippe and Spain’s Queen Letizia and leaders of Poland and Hungary will also attend the funeral of the late Pope, the Catholic news agency said.
Benedict will be laid to rest in the tombs beneath the Basilica, according to his final wishes.
Before being laid in the vault, the late Pope’s body will be sealed in a zinc coffin, which will then be put in a wooden case. Items symbolizing his time in the papacy will also be placed alongside his body.
