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Thousands of people lined up hours before dawn on Monday to pay their respects to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI as he lay in state at the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican.
The doors of the basilica were opened so members of the public could pay their respects to the late pope, who shocked the world in 2013 by retiring from the papacy, the first to do so in 600 years.
The 95-year-old Benedict died on Saturday morning at the Vatican monastery where he had lived since his retirement.
Filippo Tuccio, 35, came from Venice on the overnight train to see Benedict’s body.
“I want to pay tribute to Benedict because he played a key role in my life and my education. I arrived here around 7:30, after leaving Venice at night,” Tuccio said.
“When I was young, I participated in the World Youth Days,” said the pilgrim, referring to the youth jamboree that is held periodically and attended by the pope. Tuccio added that he had studied theology, and “the papacy accompanied me during my university years.”
“They are very important to me: what I am, how I think, my values. This is why I want to say goodbye today.”
Benedict’s body, dressed in red and gold liturgical robes and placed in a simple tie, was moved in a pre-dawn procession through the Vatican Gardens from the monastery to a place in front of the main altar of the Christendom church.
Two Swiss Guards stood at attention on either side of the body, which did not have papal insignia or regalia, such as the crosier, a silver staff with a cross, or the pallium, a cloth band worn around the neck worn by archdiocese bishops.
Both were on the body of Pope John Paul II when he was laid in state in 2005.
While the number of visitors was high, there was no sign of the crowds that had come to pay their respects to John Paul, as millions waited for hours to enter the basilica.
A public appearance for Benedict will last 10 hours on Monday at the Basilica of St. Peter. Twelve hours of viewing are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday before the funeral Thursday morning, which will be presided over by Pope Francis, in St. The Vatican said it would be a simple and solemn ceremony in keeping with Benedict’s wishes.
Security officials expect at least 25,000 people to pass the body on the first day of viewing.
WATCH: Paying tribute to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI:
Catholics flocked to the Vatican to honor pope emeritus Benedict before his death in the country. The former Pope was the first to resign from office in centuries and left behind a complex legacy.
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