{UAH} Massive influx of people pay their respects to Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI lies in state in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican as tens of thousands of faithful file past his embalmed body to pay their respects 

They are still flocking Rome from every corner of the globe.Since the announcement of his death last Saturday (31/12/2022), a death that has brought about commotion in the whole world, numerous people have been arriving in Rome to pay their respects to beloved Pope Benedict XVI now lying in state in St Peter's Basilica for the next three days until his funeral next Thursday morning. Pope Benedict XVI who at the time of his death looked very weak, emaciated by illness, and carrying hearing aids, and not able to speak, passed away peacefully after receiving the last sacraments. His body was treated by a special medical team and placed in the small chapel of the residence where he lived within the Vatican.Persons close to him have been paying their respects until this Monday morning, at dawn, when it was carried to the vast St Peter's Basilica, an edifice big enough to accommodate with ease the tens of thousands of faithful who began to file past Pope Benedict's remains in a manner of paying their last respects to the Pope who touched the world too much through his very great theological aptitudes, wonderful intelligence, and simplicity in full humility.The Italian president and the Speaker of the Italian Parliament together with the Prime Minister were among the very first people to pay their respects to the deceased Pope.While at the same time thousands of people were queuing in the vast St Peter's Square to have their turn to enter into the Basilica. Fortunately, the entries to the vast church are very wide and they allow very easily the entry of vast queues even of ten to twelve abreast. At the time the Basilica closed its doors, precisely at 7 p.m. (Roman time), the police and the Vatican authorities had already counted over 65.000 people as having paid their respects to the deceased pontiff. And tomorrow Tuesday and Wednesday the numbers will be far much bigger than that.Thousands are arriving in Rome from every corner of the world.hundreds of media platforms are already there.And the Italian authorities have very effectively proved to be equal to their task. Over one thousand policemen are on spot in St Peter's Square and the surroundings to ensure everyone's security.Transport is providing all the necessary means to speed faithful and mourners to and from the Vatican.

As for the solemn funeral mass on Thursday at 9.30 (Roman time), to be presided by Pope Francis himself, at least a quarter of a million people are expected in St Peter's Square. The Italian and German heads of state have been officially invited to attend the funeral. Other heads of state can also turn up but without official invitation from the Vatican because at the time of his death Pope Benedict XVI was no longer the effective Pope, and as such he wasn't head of state of the Vatican. So he's being seen as an ex-leader who was no longer the sovereign pontiff at the Vatican.

If Pope Francis decides, the deceased Pope will be interred in the tomb which was emptied when the coffin of Pope John Paul II was exhumed and taken to a chapel in St Peter's Basilica on the occasion of his canonization. The same tomb had already housed the remains of Pope John XXIII which were also placed in the chapel in the Basilica under instructions from Pope John Paul II.

Dr G.H. Kkolokolo

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