Body of Pope Benedict XVI will be laid to rest in St. Peter’s Basilica

Former Pope Benedict XVI’s remains will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days beginning on Monday, and tens of thousands of people are expected to pay their respects there before his funeral.

The German theologian, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 95, presided over the Catholic Church for eight years before resigning in 2013.Before his bones are interred in the crypt beneath St.

Peter’s Basilica, his successor Pope Francis will preside over the funeral on Thursday in the enormous 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 moved to the basilica on Monday, where the faithful can say their final farewells for three days during the daylight hours.

The Vatican published images of his corpse on a catafalque in the monastery chapel on Sunday. He was dressed in red papal mourning robes and had a gold-edged mitre on his head.

Francis and Benedict are currently the two “guys in white” at the Vatican due to Benedict’s unexpected resignation. He said that he lacked the strength to handle such a hard work because of his infirmity. In the end, his resignation might have opened the door for Pope Francis and other pontiffs to step down owing to ill health.

His funeral will make history as well.

Normally, when a pope passes away, a conclave of cardinals is called to pick a new pope, but Francis is still in office and will preside over the meeting this time.

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.