More than 65,000 view Benedict XVI’s body on first day

Vatican City | Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI ’s body, his head resting on a pair of crimson pillows, lay in state in St Peter’s Basilica on Monday as tens of thousands queued to pay tribute to the pontiff who shocked the world by retiring a decade ago.

On the eve of the first of three days of viewing, Italian security officials had said at least 25,000-30,000 people would come on Monday. But by the end of the first day’s viewing, some 65,000 had passed by the bier, the Vatican said.

AP