Skopje, 5 January 2023 (MIA) – A delegation of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric (MOC-OA) is attending on Thursday the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.   

The delegation includes Metropolitan of Tetovo-Gostivar, Bishop Josif, alongside professor at the Faculty of Theology, Deacon Stefan Gogovski, the MOC-OA told MIA.   

The funeral ceremony will begin at 9.30am today at St Peter’s Square with tens of thousands expected to attend, including national leaders and representatives of various countries’ royal families. 

Pope Francis is set to preside over the funeral service to commemorate the former Catholic leader who died at the age of 95 on December 31.   

People from around the world are expected to watch the ceremony, which will be the first funeral for a pontiff hosted by his successor. 

Thousands were filing through St Peter’s Basilica paying their respects to Pope Benedict during his lying in state over the last three days.