Former Pope Benedict XVI's Farewell Ceremony Begins at Vatican

The farewell ceremony for the newly departed Pope Benedict XVI began on Monday in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

The body of the deceased pontiff without a coffin is displayed in the center of the basilica in front of a bronze canopy made by Bernini.

Pope Benedict is dressed in red liturgical vestments, he has a white miter on his head and in his hands, he holds a rosary - a rosary for prayer.

The farewell ceremony was attended by the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and a number of ministers and leaders of the Catholic Church, where they gathered in front of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The farewell will last until Thursday when the funeral will take place. A funeral mass in St. Peter's Square will be led by Pope Francis.

Benedict XVI was inaugurated as pope on April 24, 2005, and assumed the reins of power according to the Catholic tradition on May 7 at St. John Lateran Cathedral in Rome. He resigned from his position on February 28, 2013, due to his old age, to be the first pope to resign in 600 years.

World leaders mourned the death of the former Pope of the Vatican. French President Emmanuel Macron said in a tweet on Twitter: " "My thoughts are with the Catholics of France and the world, bereaved by the departure of his holiness Benedict XVI, who strove with soul and intelligence for a more brotherly world.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed ex-pope Benedict XVI as a “giant of faith and reason” following his death at the age of 95.

“The government and I personally share his grief and the grief of the entire church community,” Meloni wrote in a statement.

The King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, also sent a cable of condolence on the death of Pope Benedict XVI.