A bird's-eye view over St. Peter's Square showed thousands of worshipers queuing to see the late Pope Francis lying in state in the nominal basilica, in the Vatican, on Wednesday.

So many mourners lined up to see Pope Francis lying in state in a simple wooden coffin inside St. Peter’s Basilica that the Vatican kept the doors open all night due to higher-than-expected ...

In the span of about 12 hours, the St. Peter's Square went from bursting at the seams with nearly 250,000 people crammed in for a papal funeral to peacefully quiet.

Francis’ coffin will be brought from St. Peter’s Basilica to the front of the altar in the square. Mourners were instructed to refrain from waving flags or banners during the procession.

The body of Pope Francis is carried through St. Peter's Square to St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP Photo/Stefano ...

So many mourners lined up to see Pope Francis lying in state in a simple wooden coffin inside St. Peter’s Basilica that the Vatican kept the doors open all night due to higher-than-expected ...