Members of the public can now visit the tomb of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the Vatican Grottoes, beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.

The triple coffin was buried in the former tomb of Pope John Paul II, on Thursday. John Paul's remains were brought up into the Basilica and placed in the Chapel of Saint Sebastian in 2011 after his beatification.

Coins and medals minted in the Vatican during Benedict's pontificate have been placed inside his coffin along with a cylinder containing a deed of his life. 

The former Pope had lived as Pope Emeritus in the Vatican, following his retirement from the papacy after eight years in 2013. He was the first pontiff to resign in more than 600 years.

Benedict died on 31 December at the age of 95.