Watch as thousands queue to see Pope Francis lying in state for second day

By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda updated at 1728 EAT on Thursday 24 April 2025

Pope Francis’s funeral will take place at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Saturday.

However, he will be the first Pope in more than a century not to be buried in the crypt at the Basilica – he will instead be laid to rest at the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome.

It was a wish he expressed in his final testament – writing: “The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.”

The below image shows the boundaries of the Vatican City.

Sister Patricia Murray is the executive secretary of the International Union of Superiors General, the main umbrella group of women’s religious orders.

She knew Pope Francis well and met him many times.

“I’m sad, obviously it’s like when you lose a good friend, you regret their passing, there’s something missing from your own life but also it’s a time to reflect and look back and just give thanks for so many things,” Sister Patricia says.

“For me, it was just the warmth and humanity of the man, you met a friend, he took you by the hand, he looked into your eyes, you were a special person for him.”

She adds that Pope Francis “paved the way” for the role of women in the Catholic Church.

As thousands of people continue to file through the iconic St Peter’s Basilica, where the late Pope Francis is lying in state, we’ve created some graphics to give you a sense of what they’re seeing once inside.

Mourners are being directed down the Nave, with a view of St Peter’s Baldachin – a 17th Century Baroque canopy sculpted out of bronze.

The high altar is also visible, where the relic known as the Chair of St Peter is housed, a wooden throne which Catholic tradition says belonged to the first Pope and leader of early Christians in Rome.

Pope Francis’s body has been laid in an open coffin in front of the Papal Altar, stood over by four Swiss Guards – the traditional guard of honour of the papacy.

Overlooking the coffin is the statue of Saint Longinus, a 4-metre (13ft) tall marble 17th Century piece by the iconic Italian sculptor Bernini, holding a spear in his right hand.

Longinus is the name of the Roman soldier who is said to have pierced the side of Jesus with a lance while he was

The queue to see the Pope now stretches out of St Peter’s square and down the street, the first time that’s happened since Francis’s body was moved to lie in state.

So far, the Vatican says more than 50,000 people have paid their respects. They left the Basilica open through much of the night because so many were still queueing.

Some had come after work. Others had been hoping for a shorter line in the evening.

“I think the Pope was an amazing man, so I wanted to see him,” 13-year-old Edoardo says, waiting after midnight with his parents. “I am really sorry. But I think maybe he will enjoy heaven.”

This morning the crowd was so large some were turning away.

“It looks like five or six hours, so we’ll come back later,” Catherine, a Catholic from Birmingham told us.

“Francis was more outspoken about issues relevant to now: the poor, human rights. He was more relatable. A people person

Ukrain’s President Zelensky, who met Pope Francis three times at the Vatican, is expected to return on Saturday to attend the funeral.

Despite their sense of loss, the group also shares a hope that the next Pope will continue – and perhaps even deepen – the Vatican’s support for Ukraine and pursuit of peace.

“Being here today is a great opportunity for us to say our final goodbye to the Pope,” says Anna. “And of course, we hope that the next Pope will also continue to support and help Ukraine in every possible way.”

Larysa adds: “This is a great loss for the whole world. But at the same time, it gives us hope – that the new Pope will make even greater efforts to help Ukraine and the world, and to work for peace across the globe.”

As the sun rises over the Vatican this morning, the crowds are continuing to gather to pay their respects to Pope Francis.

The late pontiff, who died on Monday, is currently lying in state in an open coffin in St Peter’s Basilica – he’ll remain there until his funeral on Saturday.

The basilica’s doors stayed open all so that a large crowd gathered on the square had a chance to file past the coffin. At midnight, when the church was supposed to close for the night, there was still a very long queue of people wanting to pay their respects

Pilgrims and tourists have continued to file in this morning.

Pope Francis’s coffin was carried via procession from his residence at Casa Santa Marta to St Peter’s Basilica, where he will lie in state until his funeral on Saturday.

As the sun beat down on St Peter’s Square, a packed crowd of thousands – from tourists to pilgrims – gathered to bear witness to today’s historic events.

Many of these will likely have joined the queue to pay their respects to the Pope.

The late pontiff’s coffin is now resting inside St Peter’s Basilica – in front of the Papal Altar – and will remain there until his funeral.

Long queues of people moved through the square outside, and through the halls of the basilica, waiting patiently to catch a glimpse of the Pope lying in state.

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