Thousands mourn Benedict XVI at funeral presided over by Pope Francis

Pope Francis joined tens of thousands of faithful in bidding farewell to Benedict XVI at a rare requiem Mass for a dead pope presided over by a living one.

Bells tolled and the crowd applauded as pallbearers carried Benedict’s cypress coffin out of the fog-shrouded St Peter’s Basilica and placed it before the altar in the square outside.

Wearing the crimson vestments typical of papal funerals, Pope Francis opened the service with a prayer and closed it by solemnly blessing the simple casket – decorated only with the former pope’s coat of arms.

Source: Stuff.co