Pope holds New Year’s Day Mass as Vatican prepares to mourn Benedict

Pope Francis holds New Year’s Day Mass in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Pope Francis prayed for his predecessor’s passage to heaven as he presided over a special New Year’s Day Mass in St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, a day after Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died in retirement at the Vatican.

The huge basilica will host Benedict’s coffin from Monday, and thousands of faithful are expected to attend the first of three days of viewing.