Devotees started to gather at 3am GMT, five and a half hours before the service for the German theologian who made history by retiring.

The UK’s highest representative at the funeral of controversial Pope Benedict XVI will be Education Secretary Gillian Keegan – with no members of the royal family expected to attend.

Benedict, the first pope in 600 years to resign from the role, died in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican at 9.34am on Saturday. An array of world leaders have honoured the former pope’s legacy.

Thousands of people have lined up to pay their respects to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St Peter’s Basilica – where he will lie in state for three days before a ‘simple’ funeral at the Vatican on Thursday.

Benedict, the first pope in 600 years to resign from the role, died in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican at 9.34am on Saturday. An array of world leaders have honoured the former pope’s legacy.

Pope Francis, smiled and waved to the crowds from an open-sided popemobile where he was seated, flanked by more than a dozen suited security guards and attendants.

‘It is a vice that many people have, many laymen, many laywomen, and also priests and nuns,’ said the 85-year-old Pope. ‘The Devil gets in that way.’

An American tourist toppled two ancient Roman busts in the Vatican Museums on Wednesday after he was told he would not be able to meet with Pope Francis.

In his address to Polish-speaking pilgrims at the end of his weekly audience in the Vatican yesterday, the pontiff encourages prayers ‘in a special way’ for the people of Ukraine.

Elon Musk on Thursday was granted an audience with Pope Francis, and brought four of his seven children along to the Vatican City visit.