To the sound of tolling bells, 12 pallbearers carried the wooden coffin of Pope Benedict out of St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday and placed it before thousands of faithful gathered in the square for his funeral.
Applause broke out across the vast, cobbled esplanade, which was shrouded in mist, in a sign of respect for Benedict, a hero to Roman Catholic conservatives who shocked the world by resigning nearly a decade ago.
More than 1,000 Italian security personnel were called up to help safeguard the event, and air space around the tiny Holy See has been closed off for the day. Italy ordered that flags around the country be flown at half staff. "Even though at our age we were just children when he was pope, he left his mark," Xavier Mora, 24, a Spaniard who is studying for the priesthood in Rome, told Reuters as he approached the square with two other seminarians.
The three-page account of his life and papacy, written in Latin, says he"fought with firmness" against sexual abuse by clergy in the Church. Other leaders, including the king and queen of Belgium, and about 13 heads of state or government, will attend in a private capacity. Most nations were being represented by their ambassadors to the Holy See.
Benedict himself acknowledged he was a weak administrator, and after eight years in the job he stunned the world's 1.3 billion Catholics in 2013 by resigning, saying he was no longer strong enough to lead the Church due to his"advanced age".
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New chapter for Pope Francis after death of Benedict XVIWith the death of Benedict XVI, Pope Francis enters a new phase of his papacy free from the constraints of co-existing with a predecessor, but conservative criticism of his reforms may not end.
Read more »
Pope Francis to lead ex-pontiff Benedict's funeralPope Francis will preside over the funeral of his predecessor at St Peter's Square in the Vatican.
Read more »
LIVESTREAM | Pope Benedict XVI laid to restPope Francis will preside over the funeral of his predecessor Benedict XVI at the Vatican.
Read more »
Hungary's Prime minister and thousands more bid farewell to former Pope Benedict - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.Thousands more people, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, paid homage to former PopeBenedictXVI on Tuesday on the second day that his body lay in state in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Read more »