The Vatican served up a surreal moment in which a living pope spoke to some of the faithful in one part of the tiny city-state while others a short distance way were honoring a deceased former pontiff
"I would like us to join with those here beside us who are paying their respects to Benedict XVI," Francis told several thousand people at the start of his audience, in which he is concluding a catechesis, or religious teaching.
At about the same time as Francis was speaking and only several dozen metres away, the great doors of St. Peter's Basilica were being opened to the public for the third and last day of public viewing of Benedict's body. The viewing is due to end at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and shortly afterwards Benedict's body will be placed in a coffin made of cypress wood.
The coffin will be placed on the ground near the outside steps of St. Peter's Basilica and the faithful will say the rosary before the funeral Mass begins.The liturgy for the Mass will be based mostly on that for a reigning pope, with some minor modifications, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
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