World mourns Pope Francis as 20,000 people queue to visit his body lying in state at Vatican in 3 days before funeral
MORE than 20,000 pilgrims have arrived to pay tribute to Pope Francis as he lies in state for three days before his funeral.
Crowds are queuing in St Peter's Square to catch a glimpse of the Pontiff before his coffin is finally sealed on Friday.
Three days of public viewing have been planned for Catholics to grieve the 88-year-old Pope, who died on Easter Monday after suffering a stroke.
Francis will be buried on Saturday outside of the Vatican - the first Pope in 120 years to be so - at the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome.
It is expected some 250,000 people will attend his funeral - including world leaders from US President Donald Trump to Prince William and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
At least 100 delegates from around the world are expected to attend the ceremony which will be ringed with tight security measures.
Tearful mourners were seen packing the square in the hours after Francis' made his final journey to St Peter's Basilica.
Francis’s body - visible in red robes and a white ceremonial mitre with his hands clutching a rosary - was led in procession in an open coffin early on Wednesday.
Warm applause rang out as the scarlet-rimmed coffin was carried through crowds.
Choral music was played across the cobbled square as hushed crowds gathered in seating to watch the dramatic moment.
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The Vatican has announced that St Peter's Basilica will be kept open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday to allow the faithful to mourn.
The Pontiff's funeral will take place on Saturday morning with a mass in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City in Rome, with the service scheduled to begin at 10am local time.
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People queue in St. Peter's Square to pay their respect to the late Pope Francis 
Thousands of Catholic faithful in Belfast pay their final respects to Pope Francis – in pictures
The Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Micky Murray has opened a book of condolence in memory of Pope Francis at Belfast City Hall 
Members of the public, above and below, arrive to sign the book of condolence in Belfast 
Book of condolences – Madrid
Jose Manuel Albares, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, is pictured signing the book of condolences opened for the death of Pope Francis at the Apostolic Nunciature in Madrid today.
The Apostolic Nunciature continues to open its doors to the citizens so that they can sign a book of condolences for the death of the Pope and show their sympathy
On his way to Rome
The head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands, Cardinal Wim Eijk, poses as he leaves the Archdiocesan Palace in Utrecht for Rome earlier today to attend the funeral of the late Pope Francis.
Cardinal Wim Eijk will attend the funeral Thousands of Catholic faithful pay their final respects to Pope Francis – in pictures
Young people from all over the world were present at the ceremony to pay their last respects to the Pope 
Visitors and pilgrims queue on St Peter's Square 
Pope Francis's body arrived at Saint Peter's Basilica today How the next pope will be chosen
That's the role of the College of Cardinals, the Catholic Church's most senior figures appointed by the pontiff, who will make their way to Rome in the next few days for the conclave.
When a pope is chosen, white smoke will emerge from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
Young contender
Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, 59, is from Portugal and one of the youngest contenders for the role of pope. He was close to Francis on most issues.
The first black pope in centuries?
Peter Turkson, 76, is from Ghana and is reportedly a favoured candidate. He has spoken out on human rights and corruption and has been vocal on the climate crisis and poverty.
Potential successors
At the moment, here is a list of the favoured candidates, starting with Pietro Parolin, 70, from Italy.
Queues and tributes at The Vatican
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Credit: Reuters Who is going to Francis' funeral?
Here are some of the world leaders set to attend the Pope's funeral on Saturday.
ARGENTINA - President Javier Milei.
BELGIUM - King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
BRITAIN - Prince William and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
EUROPEAN UNION - Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President Antonio Costa, Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
FRANCE - President Emmanuel Macron.
GERMANY - President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
GREECE - Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
ITALY - President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
IRELAND - Prime Minister Micheal Martin.
NORWAY - Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
PORTUGAL - President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.
SPAIN - King Felipe and Queen Letizia.
SWEDEN - King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
UKRAINE - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
UNITED STATES - President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
Credit: Splash Who is the Vatican camerlengo?
This is the chamberlain the cardinal in charge of formally verifying the popes death and then sealing his room and study.
Between then and the election of the new pope, the camerlengo administers the goods and temporal rights of the Holy See.
The current one is the Irish-born American Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
Cardinal Kevin FarrellCredit: AP Pope's final journey
Thousands of people filed through the central aisle of St. Peters Basilica to pay their final respects to Pope Francis on Wednesday.
Throngs of ordinary faithful made their way slowly to the 16th-century basilica's main altar, where Francis' simple wooden casket was perched on a slight ramp.
Over the coming days, tens of thousands of people are expected to pass through the basilica, which is staying open until midnight to accommodate them.Cardinals, meanwhile, met in private to finalize preparations for Saturday's funeral and plan the conclave to elect Francis' successor.
Francis died on Monday at age 88, capping a 12-year pontificate characterized by his concern for the poor and message of inclusion.
But he also faced some criticism from conservatives who sometimes felt alienated by his progressive bent.
Faithful pay respects as Pope Francis lies in state in St. Peterâs BasilicaCredit: Reuters Plans for Pope Francis' funeral
Kier Starmer pays tribute at PMQs
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the Pope at the beginning of Prime Minister's Questions, calling him an "extraordinary man".
He said: "The entire house will join me in paying tribute to his holiness Pope Francis, an extraordinary man.
"His lifelong work on fairness will leave a lasting legacy and people of all backgrounds and beliefs were inspired by his humility and his compassion, and I think the outpouring of grief and love that we've seen in the last two days or so shows the respect and admiration that he's held in around the world.
"I will attend his funeral on Saturday and pay tribute to his courage and to his leadership. May his holiness rest in peace."
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In pictures: Pope Francis lay in state
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Credit: AP Cardinals deliver liturgy inside St Peter's Basilica
Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell has just completed the Liturgy of the Word.
He, along with the other cardinals present, read from sections of the bible and sang the Lord's Prayer in Latin.
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Credit: AFP Pope's body being 'purified' with holy water and incense sticks
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Credit: Reuters Pope Francis lay in state inside St Peter’s Basilica
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Credit: AP St Peter's Basilica to remain open till midnight
The Vatican has announced that St. Peter's Basilica will be kept open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday to allow the faithful to mourn.
The public mourning period will end on Friday at 7pm local time.
The pontiff's funeral will take place on Saturday morning in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City in Rome, with the service scheduled to begin at 10am local time.
Cardinals and top clergy members are expected to attend the event, along with world leaders from across the globe.
Till then, three days of public viewing have been organised for ordinary Catholics to grieve the 88-year-old pope, who died on Easter Monday after suffering a stroke.
People catching a glimpse of Pope Francis
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Credit: Reuters Procession reaches St Peter's Square
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Credit: AFP Pope is seen lying inside the coffin
Pope Francis' coffin now being moved to St Peter’s Basilica
