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Reuters
Reuters
World
By Philip Pullella

Benedict funeral to be similar to that of reigning popes

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban pays homage to former Pope Benedict in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, January 3, 2023. Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS

(This Jan. 3 story has been refiled to correct grammar in paragraph 11)

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Tens of thousands more people paid homage to former Pope Benedict on Tuesday on the second day his body lay in state, and the Vatican announced that his funeral will be similar to that of a reigning pope, including a three coffin burial.

Faithful pay homage to former Pope Benedict in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, January 3, 2023. Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who like Benedict, has called for the protection of Europe's Christian roots, was among the some 70,000 people paying their respects at St. Peter's Basilica, following 65,000 on Monday.

Also among them was Rome resident Loredana Corrao, who said she was a great admirer of Benedict, a towering figure as an academic and a hero to conservatives but also a controversial leader who did not tolerate theological dissent.

"It was a fitting tribute. It was very emotional and moving. I also came yesterday but I had things to say to him and I also came today," she told Reuters.

A view of floral tribute as people pay homage in the wake of former Pope Benedict's death, at the Apostolic Nunciature, or the Vatican's embassy, in Madrid, Spain, January 3, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura

"I am sure that an important part of the Church's history has closed and now we have to move on without him."

Pope Francis has been carrying on his normal workload since Benedict died on Saturday at age 95. He had a regular series of audiences and meetings on Monday and Tuesday and will hold his weekly general audience on Wednesday.

The death of Benedict, who in 2013 became the first pontiff in 600 years to step down instead of reigning for life, could make any decision to leave office easier on Francis and the Church, which encountered difficulties with having "two popes".

A view of the main door as preparations for former Pope Benedict's funeral is in operation outside St. Peter's Basilica, while the former Pope's body lies in state at the Basilica, at the Vatican January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Francis will preside at Benedict's funeral in St. Peter's Square on Thursday before a crowd that Vatican police say will number in the tens of thousands.

THREE COFFINS

Because Benedict was no longer a reigning pontiff when he died, official delegations have been limited to those from Italy and his native Germany.

A view of Michelangelo's sculpture known as La Pieta at St. Peter's Basilica, where faithful gather to pay homage to former Pope Benedict as his body lies in state, at the Vatican January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Among those expected to attend in a private capacity were the presidents of Poland and Hungary and the monarchs of Spain and Belgium.

Benedict has been lying in state without any papal regalia, such as a crosier, a silver staff with a crucifix, or a pallium, a band of wool cloth worn around the neck by popes and archdiocesan bishops to signify their roles as shepherds of their flocks. Popes are also bishops of Rome.

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.

Chairs are laid outside St. Peter's Basilica in preperation for former Pope Benedict's funeral, while the former Pope's body lies in state at the Basilica, at the Vatican January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

The liturgy for Thursday's funeral Mass will be based mostly on that for a reigning pope, with some minor modifications, particularly in the prayers, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

Palliums will be placed in Benedict's coffin along with coins and medals minted during his eight years as pope and a sealed lead tube holding a deed written in Latin describing his pontificate - all customary for funerals of popes.

As is traditional for popes, Benedict's body will be placed in a cypress coffin which will be carried out of St. Peter's Basilica and into the square for the funeral.

People queue in St. Peter's Square as the body of former Pope Benedict lies in state at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

Later, as is also traditional, that one will be placed into a zinc coffin and then both will be placed into another coffin made of wood.

Benedict will be buried according to his wishes in the same spot in the crypts under St. Peter's Basilica where Pope John Paul II was originally interred in 2005 before his body was moved up to a chapel in the basilica in 2011.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Alexandra Hudson, Raissa Kasolowsky, Mark Heinrich and David Gregorio)

Postcards depicting former Pope Benedict are displayed at a post office outside St. Peter's Basilica, while faithful pay homage to former Pope Benedict as his body lies in state at the Basilica, at the Vatican January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Nuns walk in St. Peter's Square as the body of former Pope Benedict lies in state at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli
A priest sits inside St. Peter's Basilica where faithful pay homage to former Pope Benedict as his body lies in state, at the Vatican January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Faithful pay homage to former Pope Benedict as his body lies in state in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
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