VATICAN CITY , Nigeria — Nearly 50,000 mourners have visited St. Peter’s Basilica in less than 24 hours to pay tribute to Pope Francis, whose body lies in state following his death earlier this week, the Vatican confirmed.
Originally scheduled to close at midnight on Wednesday (22:00 GMT), the basilica extended its public viewing hours due to the overwhelming turnout. Viewings resumed Thursday morning after a brief pause.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years, passed away Monday at the age of 88 following a stroke. He had been hospitalized earlier this year with complications from double pneumonia.
On Wednesday, a solemn procession of red-robed cardinals and white-garbed priests escorted the Pope’s coffin from his residence to the basilica, accompanied by Swiss Guards and the tolling of bells. The gathered crowd responded with applause, a traditional Italian sign of respect.
Public visitation began at 11:00 local time, with wait times quickly stretching up to eight hours, according to local reports. By mid-afternoon, St. Peter’s Square was filled with tens of thousands of faithful.
Despite the planned midnight closure, police extended the basilica’s hours through the night, allowing mourners to continue filing past the late pontiff’s coffin until 05:30 Thursday. The viewing resumed again at 07:00.
Pope Francis will lie in state until Friday evening. A liturgical ceremony, led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell—the camerlengo temporarily overseeing Vatican affairs—will be held at 20:00 local time to seal the Pope’s coffin ahead of the conclave to elect his successor.
By Taiwo Olatinwo/ April 24, 2025
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