Supporters demand sainthood for Benedict as Pope Francis leads funeral

A picture of former Pope Benedict XVI is seen during a mass to honor him, at the Buenos Aires Cathedral, in Buenos Aires, Argentina January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis led the funeral of former Pope Benedict on Thursday, tenderly touching the coffin of his predecessor as he stood supported on a cane before tens of thousands of mourners, with some calling for the late pontiff to be made a saint.

Benedict's death on Saturday brought to an end a decade of the former and present pope living side-by-side in the Vatican and it was the first time in more than 200 years that a pontiff had led the service for his predecessor.