Tag: The Vatican

Thousands of people have been paying their respects to former Pope Benedict XVI at his lying in state in the Vatican. He died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ill health. Pope Francis will preside over Thursday’s funeral – the first time a Pope will be buried by his successor. As dawn broke over the Vatican, a queue had already formed at the edge of St Peter’s Square. At the very front was Father Alfredo Elnar, 30, from the Philippines. He said he had studied and admired the theological writings of the former pontiff, and spoke of an emptiness since his death. A little further back, Sister Marianna Patricevic, a nun from Croatia, talked of how grateful she was for all the late pope had done – saying there was not a subje...