Tens of thousands of mourners wait in eight-hour queue to pay their respects to the Pope

by · LBC
The firts members of the public begin to pay their respect to the body of Pope Francis laying in state in an open casket in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.Picture: Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu via Getty Images

By Emma Soteriou

Tens of thousands of mourners have gathered from around the world to pay their respects to Pope Francis.

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The Pope's body was moved into St Peter's Basilica ahead of his funeral this weekend, with around 20,000 mourners seen crowding the square outside.

His simple wooden coffin has been positioned low to the ground at his request, breaking with the Vatican's long-standing tradition of placing popes on an elevated catafalque.

The first members of the public have now begun filing past the coffin, some crossing themselves or pausing briefly in prayer as they pay their respects.

The queue is already believed to be eight hours long.

Arrival of the coffin of Pope Francis.Picture: Alamy
Pallbearers, next to Swiss Guards, carry the coffin of the late Pope Francis as it is transported from the chapel of Santa Marta to St Peter's Basilica, following the Pope's death.Picture: Getty

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Pope Francis was moved from the Chapel of Santa Marta near St Peter's, where his body had lain for two days after his death aged 88 on Monday.

He had been ill for some time before his death, caused bya cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.

His funeral on Saturday will be attended by world leaders and statesmen including Donald Trump, Keir Starmer and Prince William.

Pallbearers, next to Swiss Guards, carry the coffin of the late Pope Francis as it is transported from the chapel of Santa Marta to St Peter's Basilica, following the Pope's death.Picture: Getty
The pope entering St Peter's.Picture: Getty

He was carried in an open casket on Wednesday accompanies by cardinals, members of the Swiss Guard, and other Vatican officials.

A new Pope will be selected in the coming weeks.

Pallbearers, next to Swiss Guards, carry the coffin of the late Pope Francis (C) at St Peter's Square, entering St Peter's Basilica, during the procession from the chapel of Santa Marta to St Peter's Basilica, following the Pope's death.Picture: Getty

The procession, accompanied by cardinals and Latin chants, began at 9am local time (8am BST).

The public will be able to pay their respects from 11am local time (10am BST) on Wednesday until 7pm (6pm BST) on Friday.

The basilica will remain open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday to accommodate mourners.

The body of Pope Francis is placed into St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool).Picture: Alamy

Kensington Palace confirmed on Tuesday that the Prince of Wales, a future head of the Church of England, will attend the funeral on behalf of the King.

In accordance with his wishes, Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome, breaking with the tradition of papal burials in St Peter's Basilica.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the Pope at the beginning of Prime Minister's Questions, calling him an "extraordinary man".

He said: "The entire house will join me in paying tribute to his holiness Pope Francis, an extraordinary man.

"His lifelong work on fairness will leave a lasting legacy and people of all backgrounds and beliefs were inspired by his humility and his compassion, and I think the outpouring of grief and love that we've seen in the last two days or so shows the respect and admiration that he's held in around the world.

"I will attend his funeral on Saturday and pay tribute to his courage and to his leadership. May his holiness rest in peace."