Catholics will have the opportunity to pay their respects to former Pope Benedict XVI.
Prior to his funeral, Pope Benedict XVI’s remains will lay in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days.
Pope Benedict who passed away on Saturday at the age of 95, presided over the Catholic Church for eight years before resigning in 2013.
Before his remains are interred in the crypt beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, his successor Pope Francis will lead the funeral ceremony on Thursday in the vast St. Peter’s Square.
Benedict passed away at the Mater Ecclesiae convent, where he had resided for the previous ten years, in the Vatican gardens.
His remains will be brought to the basilica early on Monday, when the faithful can say their final goodbyes for three days during the day.
The Vatican published images of his body on a catafalque in the abbey church on Sunday. He was draped in red papal mourning garments and had a gold-edged mitre on his head.
The Vatican has stated that Benedict’s burial will be “solemn but simple,” and that he will afterwards be buried in the papal mausoleum under St. Peter’s Basilica.
Besides stating that delegations from Italy and Benedict’s native Germany will be present, the Vatican has not yet disclosed any other information on the guest list.
Millions of faithfuls attended John Paul II’s last papal funeral in 2005, which gathered world leaders.
READ ALSO:Kenyans condole with Kate Actress as she mourns the death of a loved one
