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The physique of the previous Pope Benedict XVI, who died on the age of 95 on Saturday – lay in state on Monday for the primary of three days earlier than his funeral on Thursday.
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
Tens of hundreds of individuals filed by St. Peter’s Basilica on the Vatican right now, the place the physique of former Pope Benedict XVI is mendacity in state. The general public viewing will final by Wednesday, and Benedict’s successor, Pope Francis, will preside over the funeral on Thursday. From Rome, NPR’s Sylvia Poggioli has extra.
SYLVIA POGGIOLI, BYLINE: The procession of each mourners and vacationers moved steadily and quietly alongside the central nave of the basilica. Safety was very tight, with guests going by a number of checkpoints and metallic detectors earlier than getting into the basilica. The bier stood on the finish of the nave, on the foot of the ornate bronze baldachin designed by the Baroque grasp Bernini. Benedict’s physique was wearing crimson and gold vestments. His head rested on crimson pillows. Two Swiss guards stood at consideration on both facet. Given Benedict’s standing as a former pope, there was no papal insignia surrounding the physique.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Non-English language spoken).
POGGIOLI: The silence of the basilica was periodically damaged with prayers and readings from the gospel, and ushers moved guests at a gentle clip. Within the first day of viewing, Vatican police stated 65,000 folks had filed previous the physique.
Exterior in St. Peter’s Sq., the temper was not somber however festive. Households with youngsters took footage across the creche and Christmas tree. And Ines Balaloni, visiting from Argentina, had a serene look on her face.
INES BALALONI: Superb. I’ll say marvelous. It is a good go to.
POGGIOLI: Elisabetta Vargiu, who comes from the Italian island of Sardinia, didn’t go into the basilica as a result of she stated the traces had been too lengthy. However she, too, was very impressed by the event.
ELISABETTA VARGIU: I believe that it is an amazing occasion, OK? And I believe that individuals going into the church are very near the pope, to the area and to their religion.
POGGIOLI: The Vatican has stated that the previous pope, in accordance together with his needs, will likely be buried within the crypt below St. Peter’s Basilica, the place different popes are buried. Not all particulars of the funeral mass have been revealed. All that is identified is that solely two delegations have been invited – Italy and Benedict’s homeland, Germany – and that the ritual will likely be solemn and easy.
Sylvia Poggioli, NPR Information, Rome.
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