Former Pope Benedict XVI lies in state at Vatican

The former Pope Benedict XVI’s body lies in state at the Vatican, where thousands of people gathered to pay their last respects. The doors to St Peter’s Basilica were opened to the public on Monday morning as mourners paid their respects to the late pontiff, who died on Saturday at 95.

READ MORE: Former Pope Benedict XVI dies 

The people who had waited for hours filed past his body in watchful prayer and appreciation of the life of the late pontiff. Benedict will lie in the open at the centre of the famous basilica ahead of his funeral on Thursday morning. Security officials expect 25,000 people to pass on the first viewing day.

Among those queuing was Filippo Tuccio, 35, who came from Venice on an overnight train. He said: “I wanted to pay homage to Benedict because he had a key role in my life and my education.”

Mr. Tuccio said that he had studied theology and “his pontificate accompanied me during my university years. He was very important to me for what I am, my way of thinking, and my values. So I want to pay my last respects.”

Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world in 2013 by retiring from the papacy, the first to do so in 600 years, saying he no longer had the physical and mental strength to run the Catholic church. During his time as pope, he faced a slew of criticism over the Catholic Church’s response to child sex abuse allegations and claims of corruption and feuding within the Vatican.

Following his resignation, he lived in the Vatican monastery and served as pope emeritus. The current head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, replaced him. Public viewing of the body will last for 10 hours on Monday in St Peter’s Basilica. Twelve hours of viewing are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday before Thursday morning’s funeral, which Pope Francis will lead in St Peter’s Square.

CNN/S.O