20,000 queue to see Pope's coffin

CROWDS of tearful pilgrims formed a huge queue yesterday and patiently waited for hours in blazing Rome sunshine to pay their last respects to their beloved Pope Francis.

- Giles Sheldrick

An estimated 20,000 faithful followers — many weeping, many clutching bibles and rosary beads - lined up to say goodbye to the pontiff on the first day of his lying in state.

Hundreds of thousands more are expected to carry on queuing at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican over the next two days, before the man who led the world's 1.4 billion Catholics is finally laid to rest.

Francis, who died on Easter Monday aged 88, was known as the People's Pope because of his humility, common touch and loathing of pomp and extravagance.

So he is lying in state in a simple wooden open coffin, dressed in red vestments and his papal mitre, with a rosary in his hands.

And instead of being raised up on a traditionally elevated catafalque, the coffin is close to the ground at the religious leader's request, so that his disciples can see him when they come to bid him farewell.

Prayers