Catholics pay homage to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the Vatican before his funeral on Thursday.
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, the German theologian who became Pope Benedict XVI, served as head of the Catholic church and the sovereign of the Vatican City State from April 19, 2005 until his resignation, due to ill health, on February 28, 2013.
Pope Benedict, who succeeded Pope John Paul II and was succeeded by Pope Francis, died on December 31, 2022 aged 95 at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in Vatican City.
IMAGE: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lies in state in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
IMAGE: A priest carries a censer to spread the fragrance of incense around Pope Benedict's body. Photograph: Vatican Media/Handout/Reuters
IMAGE: A cardinal kisses Pope Benedict's hand. Photograph: Vatican Media/Handout/Reuters
IMAGE: Priests pray for his eternal journey. Photograph: Vatican Media/Handout/Reuters
IMAGE: Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni beside Pope Benedict's bier. Photograph: Vatican Media/Handout/Reuters
IMAGE: People queue for a glimpse of Pope Benedict. Photograph: Vatican Media/Handout/Reuters
IMAGE: Nuns pay homage to the late pope. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
IMAGE: The faithful queue to enter St Peter's Basilica to pay homage. Photograph: Ciro De Luca/Reuters
IMAGE: L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's daily newspaper, reports Pope Benedict's passing on its front page. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
IMAGE: Monks wait in St Peter's Square to pay their respects. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
IMAGE: The faithful take pictures of the late pope. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
IMAGE: A camera operator works as the faithful pay homage. Photograph: Ciro De Luca/Reuters
IMAGE: A seller displays goods, including images of Popes John Paul II, Benedict and Francis outside St Peter's Basilica. Photograph: Ciro De Luca/Reuters
IMAGE: Workers place chairs in St Peter's Square for the funeral service. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
IMAGE: Candles at St Peter's Square. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com
Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
