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An estimated 65,000 people have visited Vatican City to pay their respects to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, whose body is lying in state in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Benedict’s body was dressed with a bishop’s mitre and a red cloak, arranged on red pillows atop a bier draped in gold fabri. For two more days, he’ll lie in state for the faithful to pay their respects to first pope in nearly 600 years to resign as the head of the Catholic Church.
Benedict died Saturday. He was 95, and his death came just days after Pope Francis asked for prayers following reports that his predecessor’s health was failing.
Vatican officials had estimated at least 25,000 people would offer their respects on Monday, the first day of the viewing. But by day’s end, the Vatican said that some 65,000 had passed by the bier.
‚THE POPE IS GONE‘:Catholics gather at Vatican City to mourn Benedict’s death
Just after 9 a.m. local time Monday, the basilica doors swung open so the public could pay respects to the late pontiff, his body dressed with a miter, the peaked headgear of a bishop, and a red cloak.
People strode briskly up the center aisle to pass by the bier with its cloth draping after waiting in a line that by midmorning snaked around St.
