Early this morning, the body of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI was moved from the Mater Ecclesiae monastery to St. Peter's Basilica.
Some of the Pope emeritus' close friends spent a few moments praying before the body was moved. Archbishop Georg Gänswein and the four lay women of the Memores Domini Association followed closely behind.
A few heads of state, including Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, stopped to pay their respects in St. Peter's Basilica. They were among the first to visit before the Basilica opened to the public.
Crowds of pilgrims began flooding St. Peter's Square, lining up to say their last goodbye to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. Some were simply visiting Rome for vacation but are scheduling time to pay their respects.
JULES LYOCHON
A surprise, yes, but a good one, it's nice to see so many people.
I mean it's something you have to experience if you are here at the right time—to see all the believers and stuff like that. It's very nice.
Other pilgrims had come to Rome on vacation with their family. But they continued to follow the news of the Pope emeritus and were shocked by his passing.
VALERIA ALTAMIRANO
I didn't expect him to die. I knew he had been in a delicate condition for a long time and it's a shame at this time of year. But it is an historic moment for us to be here.
Even people who live in Rome were spending the morning waiting in line to pay their respects, including Sr. Edivane, who had just visited Pope emeritus Benedict XVI on behalf of her community.
SR. EDIVANE PATROCINIO DOS SANTOS
Daughters of Our Lady of Divine Love
I feel privileged to be here and we're praying for him, for his eternal rest. And we also ask his intercession for us, who are still here on this earth to be faithful to God, faithful to the Church, faithful to Our Lady as he had always been.
Meanwhile, people continue to line up in St. Peter's Square to bid the Pope emeritus a final farewell and more are expected to arrive in the next two days.
KG
