“He always wanted to accompany us towards the encounter with Jesus,” assures Pope Francis. His voice resounds in front of several thousand faithful. Wednesday’s general audience looks like a dress rehearsal for his predecessor’s historic funeral, scheduled for the next day. “I would like us to unite with those, nearby, who are paying homage to Benedict XVI,” he says once more. Three days following the start of the exhibition of the body of the resigning pontiff, thousands of people are still waiting in front of the basilica. The faithful might say goodbye to him until 7 p.m. on this sunny day.
