- Title: TIMELINE: After former Pope Benedict's death, Vatican prepares for funeral
- Date: 4th January 2023
- Summary: CANDLE
- Embargoed: 18th January 2023 12:41
- Keywords: Pope Benedict Pope Francis Vatican
- Location: VATICAN CITY / ROME, ITALY / MUNICH, LIMBURG AND ALTOETTING, GERMANY
- City: VATICAN CITY / ROME, ITALY / MUNICH, LIMBURG AND ALTOETTING, GERMANY
- Country: Vatican City
- Topics: Europe,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA006031104012023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A WRAP CONTAINING NO NEW MATERIAL
Wednesday (January 4) marked the third and last day of public viewing of Pope Benedict XVI's body at St Peter's Basilica, ahead of his funeral on Thursday (January 5).
Benedict XVI was a towering theologian and hero to conservative Catholics uncomfortable with Pope Francis' more progressive papacy. In 2013 he became the first pope in 600 years to resign instead of reigning for life.
As of Tuesday night (January 3), about 135,000 people had filed past the former pope, who has been lying in state without any papal regalia on a catafalque, a raised bier, before the basilica's main altar.
The decision not to have them during the public viewing appeared to have been decided to underscore that he no longer was pope when he died last Saturday (December 31) at the age of 95.
The viewing is due to end at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and shortly afterwards Benedict's body will be placed in a coffin made of cypress wood.
The coffin will be placed on the ground near the outside steps of St. Peter's Basilica and the faithful will say the rosary before the funeral Mass begins.
(Production: Helena Williams) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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