Tens of thousands of mourners descended upon Vatican City on Friday to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, as his body was lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica for a final day before his funeral on Saturday. The beloved pontiff, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, led the Roman Catholic Church for more than a decade and was known for his humility, focus on the poor, and efforts to modernise the Church.

As of Friday morning, the Vatican reported that more than 128,000 people had already visited the basilica over the previous three days, a testament to the global reach of Pope Francis’s papacy and the personal impact he had on many. The line of mourners wrapped around St Peter’s Square and extended well beyond the enclave's borders, reaching the Italian territory.

According to a report from April 24 by Italian news agency ANSA, the queue stretched for approximately two kilometres.

It began at Piazza del Risorgimento and, after a series of twists and turns, reached Via di Porta Angelica.

Pilgrims from across Italy and abroad waited patiently, some for hours, in a line that moved steadily but slowly. Many clutched rosaries, prayer books, or photos of the late pope, and some quietly wept as they approached the entrance to the basilica.

Inside, the body of Pope Francis lies in repose, dressed in simple white vestments, his signature iron pectoral cross resting on his chest. Visitors are permitted only a brief moment to pay their respects before being guided out to make way for the next in line.

Elsewhere in Rome, visitors also lined up to enter the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, one of the city’s most important churches and the place where Pope Francis will be buried following the funeral.

The choice of final resting place reflects his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary and his frequent visits to the basilica throughout his pontificate.

Saturday’s funeral in St Peter’s Square is expected to draw world leaders, religious dignitaries, and an immense crowd of faithful.

It will mark the end of a papacy that broke barriers and embraced a vision of a more compassionate and inclusive Church.