LIVE: Catholic Church bids farewell to Benedict XVI in St Peter’s Square

the nail 100,000 people They are expected to attend the Pope Emeritus’ funeral. Benedict XVIPlaza D. on this Thursday St. PeterAmid strong security measures, according to HQ’s assessment Rome Police.

According to a security plan approved by the Italian capital’s police, the airspace over the entire area will be closed, and helicopters, snipers, special forces fighting terrorism, firefighters and municipal police have been made available. In total, there will be more than 1,000 agents.

The Pope Benedict XVI He held one of the most important offices in the world, but in the last years of his life he wished to remain “hidden from the world”. Although his body was exposed for three days this week, The funeral rites This Thursday will partly honor his wishes for simplicity, but also include some festivities reserved for the head of the Catholic Church.

Access to Plaza D at 6am (local time). St. Peter For the faithful, they slowly and orderly began to take their seats Tickets are not distributed for this occasion But had to queue to get into the enclosure.

To access the Plaza de San Pedro Must pass through controls and metal detectorand all parked vehicles were closed to traffic and removed from the streets adjacent to the Vatican.

Public transport in the Italian capital has been strengthened so that the faithful can easily reach the square.

Despite the low temperature and the middle of the night, The faithful spent the night in the Vatican’s environs He was the first to enter St. Peter’s Square.

The famous Esplanade will be the setting for the funeral of the former Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.