- Title: WRAP: Crowds view body of former Pope Benedict in St. Peter's
- Date: 2nd January 2023
- Summary: VARIOUS OF BAETZING AND ETEROVIC IN FRONT OF PHOTO RELIGIOUS ICON VARIOUS OF BAETZING SIGNING CONDOLENCES BOOK BUST OF BENEDICT (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF GERMAN BISHOP'S CONFERENCE, GEORG BAETZING, SAYING: "The mortal shell is only the part that stays here and hopes for resurrection, but the person, the bishop, the priest, the Pope Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger lives with God and this is my hope: that he has found his eternal home in the goodness and mercy of God whom he served his whole life." BENEDICT PHOTO / CONDOLENCES BOOK MESSAGES IN CONDOLENCES BOOK
- Embargoed: 16th January 2023 12:37
- Keywords: Pope Vatican body
- Location: VATICAN CITY / ROME, ITALY / BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: VATICAN CITY / ROME, ITALY / BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Vatican City
- Topics: Europe,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA006991902012023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A WRAP CONTAINING NO NEW MATERIAL
CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
A steady stream of tens of thousands of people filed into St. Peter's Basilica on Monday (January 2) to pay their respects to former Pope Benedict XVI, whose body was laying in state without any papal paraphernalia ahead of his funeral this week.
Benedict died on Saturday at the age of 95 in the secluded Vatican monastery where he had lived since his shock resignation in 2013.
Benedict's body, dressed in red and gold liturgical vestments and placed on a simple dais, was moved in a procession just before dawn through the Vatican Gardens from the monastery to a spot in front of the main altar of Christendom's largest Church.
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Matarella also joined crowds of mourners in Saint Peter's Basilica on Monday as they paid their respects to former Pope Benedict XVI.
The PM and president attended the lying-in-state separately. Both spent a few minutes sitting in silence by the body before greeting and shaking hands with other mourners on their way out.
Meanwhile, Germany's top Bishop was in Berlin to sign the book of condolences to former Pope Benedict XVI.
Georg Baetzing said he was moved by the tributes pouring in and said he was impressed by the amount of interest from the public.
(Production: Thomas Newey, Edward Baran)v - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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