Pope Benedict XVI :Lying-in-state begins at the Vatican.

Huge queues build to see the former Pope lying-in-state at the Vatican, Image: BBC.

Thousands of people from around the world are expected to pay their respects to former Pope Benedict XVI at his lying-in-state in the Vatican.

People will be allowed to pay their respects until 7 pm each evening as his body is displayed for three days in an open casket at St Peter's Basilica.

On Sunday, the Vatican released pictures of the body, dressed in red papal mourning robes and a gold-trimmed miter.

A queue started forming at the edge of St Peter's Square as dawn broke over the Vatican, BBC reports.

Father Alfredo Elnar, 30, from the Philippines spoke of emptiness since Pope Benedict's death and said he had studied and admired the theological writings of the former pontiff.

A nun from Croatia, Sister Marianna Patricevic, expressed her gratitude for all the late Pope Benedict had done - saying that all the subjects she studied at university discussed his views.

Father Richard Kunst, visiting from the US, said when he passes Pope Benedict's body, he would pray for him and also ask for a miracle to help a friend at home who is dying of cancer.

Benedict XVI resigned in 2013 citing failing health and became the first Pope to resign in 600 years.

He died on Saturday, New Year's Eve at the age of 95, almost a decade after he stepped down because of ill health.

Pope Francis will preside over Pope Emeritus' funeral on Thursday, - the first time a Pope will be buried by his successor.

After the funeral which will take place in St Peter's Square, Pope Emeritus will be laid to rest in the tombs beneath the Basilica.

 A Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni,

 said that the rite on Thursday would be a “solemn but sober funeral.” Bruno told journalists that Benedict asked that the funeral be marked by simplicity.

Tributes have continued to pour in from around the world, and the funeral is expected to draw crowds of thousands.

The Vatican has not released details of the guest list but has said that it will include delegations from Italy and Germany, Benedict's native country.

The funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005 was the last papal funeral and one of the largest Christian gatherings in history. It drew an estimated four million people to Rome.

Tributes.

Pope Francis; Image:BBC.

Pope Francis paid tribute to his " dearest" predecessor after his death. 

US President Joe Biden commended the former Pope's "lifetime of devotion to the Church." 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised him as "a great man whom history will not forget".

In Brazil - the world's largest Catholic nation, incoming President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he wished "comfort to the faithful and admirers of the Holy Father".

The Pope Emeritus supported orthodoxy and moved against dissenting theologians in his capacity as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the church's theological watchdog.

He opposed homosexuality, abortion, birth control, and Latin American liberation theology.

However, some have criticized Benedict XVI for ignoring allegations of clerical sexual abuse.

Religion. Society and Culture.