Many people line up to see Benedict’s body at Vatican.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Thousands of people lined up across St. Peter’s Square hours before dawn on Monday to view Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Pay respects to the body of the deceased.

Public viewing lasts for 10 hours on Monday in St. Peter’s Basilica. Twelve hours of viewing are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday before Thursday morning’s funeral, which will be led by Pope Francis, in the square.

The frail, 95 year-old Benedict died Saturday morning In the Vatican monastery, where he lived since his retirement in 2013, when he became first pontiff in 600 years to resign.

Security officials anticipated that at least 25,000 people would pass the body the first day of viewing.

___

Follow AP’s coverage of Pope Benedict XVI: https://apnews.com/hub/pope-benedict-xvi