Crowds Bid Pope Benedict Farewell At Basilica

Over 65,000 people on Monday, the day one of the burial activities lined up for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed through Saint Peter’s Basilica to give their final farewell to the former Pope.

According to Vatican news media, around 7 a.m CET on Monday, the body of the late Pope Emeritus was transferred from Mater Ecclesiae Monastery to Saint Peter’s Basilica.

A long line of people had queued since the early hours of the morning to pay their respects to Pope Emeritus Benedict’s XVI.

The Pope Emeritus’ body will lie in state in Saint Peter’s Basilica until the funeral ceremony slated for Thursday morning.

Visitation hours for the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in Saint Peter’s Basilica, according to Vatican news, will be:

• Monday from 9 a.m to 7 pm CET
• Tuesday to Wednesday from 7 a.m to 7 pm CET

Late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had in November 2, 2008 said:

“Eternal life will be like ‘immersing yourself in the ocean of infinite love where time – a before and an after – no longer exists. Fullness of life and joy: This is what we hope for and expect from our being with Christ”.