SW News: Pope Francis will preside over the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who died at the age of 95, on January 5. The director of the Holy See Press office, Matteo Bruni, said that the funeral of the Pope Emeritus will be held on Thursday at 9.30 CET in St. Peter's Square.
He noted that beginning on Monday, Benedict XVI's body would lie in state in the Basilica so that followers who choose to do so may offer prayers and a final farewell.
The Vatican said that Pope Emeritus passed away on Saturday at 9:34 am in his residence at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery.
In keeping with how he lived his life, Pope Emeritus particularly requested that everything, including the burial, be done simply.