Funeral ceremonies for Pope Benedict XVI begin
For the first time in centuries, a sitting pontiff will preside over his predecessor's funeral. Pope Benedict was the first Roman Catholic pope in 600 years to leave his post before dying
Pope Benedict XVI is being laid to rest on Thursday, with the funeral unusually bveing presided over by his successor, Pope Francis.
Francis will celebrate the Mass in St. Peter's Square before his German-born predecessor is buried in the papal tombs beneath St. Peter's Basilica.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died in Rome on Saturday, aged 95.
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Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, became the first German pope in centuries when he was elected in 2005.
In 2013, he became the first pontiff in six centuries to resign, citing his frail health. His eight-year tenure was marred by the fallout from the global sex abuse scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church.
What will happen at the funeral?
According to the Vatican, Benedict had requested a comparatively modest ceremony, though several papal traditions will still be upheld such as a three-coffin burial.
After lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica, his body was moved into a cypress coffin, to prepare him for the funeral, which is expected to be attended by around 100,000 people, including heads of state and government, European royals and 3,700 members of the clergy.
A written account of his time as pope in a metal cylinder and coins minted at the Vatican during his tenure will be placed with the body.
The body will then be carried to St. Peter's Square where Pope Francis will say a Mass with readings in several languages.
After the funeral, the body will be returned to the basilica for a private ceremony and the coffin will be encased in another made of zinc and then a larger one made of wood.
Benedict will be interred in the Vatican Grottoes, a site underneath St. Peter's Basilica that houses some 90 deceased popes. These included the remains of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, until his tomb was moved into the main part of the basilica after he was beatified, or turned into a saint by the Church. Benedict's coffin will be placed in John Paul II's old position.
Full complement of German, Bavarian political dignitaries
The body of the former pope has laid in state for three days.
People began gathering outside the basilica at dawn on Monday before the doors opened. Thousands were allowed to view the body and pay their respects for several hours.
Benedict's funeral will be marked in his home country with church bells ringing at 11 a.m local time (1000 GMT/UTC).
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will also attend the funeral. Formal state invitations were only issued to officials from Italy and Germany, though leaders from several other countries will attend in a private capacity.
On the German side, all five heads of the various state organs have jetted off to Rome. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the presidents of the two houses of parliament, Bärbel Bas of the Bundestag and Peter Tschentscher of the Bundesrat, and even the top judge on the constitutional court, Stephan Harbarth, will all attend besides Scholz.
Meanwhile, Bavarian state premier Markus Söder of the Christian Social Union (CSU) led a delegation to Rome from Ratzinger's home state.
"Meeting with the federal president in Rome," Söder wrote on Twitter, sharing an image of him and Steinmeier shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries. "Like me, it is his birthday today. All the best, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Sadly it's nevertheless an odd feeling on a day like today..."
