The Vatican (and Rome) prepares for Pope Benedict XVI’s funeral, January 4th, 2023

The Vatican and Rome are getting geared up for Pope Benedict’s funeral (aka Joseph Ratzinger) on January 5^th, 2023.
 
International networks have already been in place at St. Peter’s Square since the news broke out of the former pontiff’s death on December 31st.   Up to 135,000 people have already filed past Ratzinger’s body which lies inside St. Peter’s Basilica. 

 

CNN's Fred Pleitgen 

The funeral will be presided over by the current Pope, Francis, at 9.30 am on Thursday with 60,000 people who will be present on St. Peter’s Square.  More than 1,000 security personnel will be on hand as well as emergency staff to make sure that things will run smoothly during the funeral.

Tourists and the devotees are already flocking to Rome to also take advantage of the upcoming long weekend (and warm weather) as January 6^th is Epiphany, a national holiday in Italy.  

Italy's chief of police