The mourners visit St. Peter’s Cathedral to the Pope Francis, who are lying in the Lord.

Sarah Rainsford and Laura Gozzi
grey placeholderThe Pope's coffin is transported through St. Peter's square, standing in line and a Swiss guard EPA

Tens of thousands of mourning people have the opportunity to express respect to Pope Francis.

On Wednesday morning, 20,000 people gathered to escort the coffin from the Pope’s personal residence.

The bell was passed out of the 40 -minute procession, and the crowd fell into applause, a sign of traditional Italian respect.

In the Vatican, nine days of mourning will be observed, and the Pope’s funeral will be held on Saturday.

The 88 -year -old boy died on Monday after suffering from a stroke. He spent five weeks at the hospital early this year with double pneumonia.

Francis was the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church and has played his role for 12 years.

grey placeholderReuters Pope Francis's body is moved to St. Peter's Cathedral on the Vatican on April 23, 2025.Reuters

His body will be in church until Friday evening. Public viewing began at 11 o’clock on Wednesday (10:00 bst).

The Swiss guards, responsible for the safety of the pope, led his coffins to the altar of the church.

Immediately after the event began, the queue was already 8 hours long, according to Italian media. By the middle of the afternoon, tens of thousands of people were surrounding the square.

The Vatican said it is considering extending the opening time of the church beyond midnight due to the number of people waiting.

The church was scheduled to be closed on Wednesday and Thursday at 19:00 on Wednesday and Thursday before the coffin was sealed.

Lewis and Macarena from Mexico wanted to come to Rome for honeymoons and meet the pope who gives a special blessing to the newlyweds. Lewis said the BBC would make the Pope’s last resting place to feel connected.

“The Pope Francis is a saint and we will bless us in heaven.”

Mary Ellen, an Italian American, said he came to the Vatican overnight for “farewell greetings.”

“I like Papa FranceSco,” she said. “He loves immigrants because he is humble and kind. I know that I have a lot of difficult things in the Vatican. He fought against the power and power of the Vatican to become a true Christian, a true Catholic.”

She said that she would pass through the coffin and asked Pope Francis to ask for help with immigrants.

grey placeholderReuters lined up in St. Peter Square and saw the pope.Reuters

In the St. Peter, under the careful marble eyes of the Pope and the saints, steady people expressed respect to the pope’s coffin.

Some kneeled and others continued to move slowly and crossed.

Many people remained to admire the great beauty of the cathedral. Despite thousands of people, the atmosphere was quiet and solemn.

The two women who waited for five hours to see the Pope arrived at the cathedral at 09:00.

One told the BBC that it was important to say goodbye to the pope.

“For these years, I have followed everything he has done, and even if I am at home, it seems as if I traveled around the world.

She asked what it was like to meet him in his coffin. “It’s like a person on TV,” he replied.

grey placeholderReuters lined up hundreds of people in St. Peter to see the pope's coffin.Reuters

Fredrik, who was from Ghana but traveled in Poland, said, “I did my best.”

In Italy, Mexican Eva Asensio said he felt the intimacy of Pope Argentina.

“We saw him a good pope of a person who supported everyone regardless of your sexual orientation, regardless of where you came from.” She shed tears.

Margaux, a French and Rome, said, “It is powerful to live this.”

For her, Pope Francis meant “hope” and his more progressive social view is “very important.”

“I hope the next Pope will follow his way.” She said.

grey placeholderThe photo shows the altar inside the cathedral of St. Peter. Here, the Pope's coffin is placed in front of the altar and is visited by St. Peter Square.

High -ranking people from all over the world, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William, will attend the funeral on Saturday.

The Pope Francis left a clear instruction that he wanted a small consciousness like the Pope according to his simple taste. He prepared for the patrons to pay all the costs.

Unlike the majority of his predecessors, he is under the tombstone engraved only in his name in a church dedicated to St. Peter, not buried in St. Peter.

Pope Francis was lying in the open coffin of his house chapel next to the Swiss Security Guard and the Swiss guard before moving to St. Peter.

His last release was on the Easter Sunday, and in the meantime, he delivered a brief remarks to the public gathered in St. Peter Square in a wheelchair.

Then he drove in the car through the crowd and welcomed the worshipers and the blessed babies.

His pope apartments continue until the beginning or empty position of the era, which is sealed and known as SEDE VACANTE, continues until the new head of the church is elected.

Additional report of JORGE PEREZ