Thousands Pay Respects Overnight to Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City remained open overnight to accommodate tens of thousands of mourners paying their last respects to Pope Francis, who died following a stroke. The overwhelming turnout led to exceptionally long wait times, with some visitors queuing for up to eight hours. Mourners from around the world, including families and pilgrims, gathered to honor Francis, known for his humility and advocacy for the poor, as his body lay in a simple wooden coffin. The basilica was briefly closed for cleaning early Thursday before reopening for continued public viewing until Friday evening. Pope Francis’s funeral will take place in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, attended by world leaders, and he will be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, breaking with Vatican tradition. Italy has declared five days of national mourning, and additional public transport services have been arranged in Rome to manage the crowds.