SW News: Long queues of mourners were visible in front of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Monday, January 2, as the body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lay in state in front of the Main Altar. People from all walks of life paid their respects to the former pontiff, who passed away on Saturday, December 31. One of the first mourners to pay their respects were Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council Alfredo Mantovano and Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida.

The late pope emeritus was vested in red liturgical vestments and a golden miter. However, the pallium, the symbol of papal jurisdiction, was missing. Before dawn on Monday, Archbishop Georg Gaswein, the personal secretary of Benedict XVI, led a private prayer service in the chapel of Mater Ecclesiae Monastery where the body of the former pontiff was first kept. After the prayer, the close associates of the late pope emeritus, friends and staff of the residence paid their last respects.

His mortal remains were then moved to a vehicle that slowly made its way to the Basilica and Archbishop Gaswein and others followed in procession. At the Basilica, pallbearers received the body of Benedict XVI and carried it in procession to the Altar of the Chair as the choir intoned the Litaniae Sanctorum (Litany of the Saints) in Latin. The procession was led by the cross-bearer, acolytes and Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest. He then prayed the office for the dead, which was attended by several religious priests and monks, honorary prelates in the Curia, staff of Mater Ecclesiae and close associates of Benedict XVI. The service came to an end with the singing of the Pater Noster (Our Father).

After the prayer service, the Basilica was opened for believers to pay their respects. The exposition of the mortal remains will go on through Wednesday from 9 am to 7 pm on Monday, and from 7 am to 7 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday.