Pope Francis latest: First mourners view Pontiff’s coffin at St Peter’s Basilica as thousands queue outside – UK Times

In its latest update, the Vatican has said the Pope’s coffin will be closed at 8pm local time on Friday.

It is currently open for public viewing and there will be a ceremony for its closure, which will likely be broadcast.

About 20,000 people have filed into St Peter’s Square, according to estimations.

As well as the public, about 80 cardinals have arrived and 2,000 journalists have applied for accreditation to gain access to Vatican events.

After this morning’s procession in St Peter’s Square, mournful crowds gathered to pay their respects to the late Pope.

“It’s been a difficult time for followers of the Catholic Church seeing Pope Francis be so unwell over these past few months,” Sky News correspondent Lisa Holland said.

“So now there’s a sense of peace that they can be with him to pay their respects.”

People travelled from all over – including one person who cycled a huge distance to join the line to see the Pope, Holland reported.

The public have started filing in to St Peter’s Basilica to see the Pope’s coffin.

Today is the first of three days of public viewing ahead of the funeral on Saturday.

Pope Francis will be laid to rest in a location that reflects his humble approach to the grand office.

Breaking with tradition, the pontiff has chosen a burial site outside the Vatican – the first pope to do so in 120 years.

Justin Welby has spoken about his relationship with the late Pope Francis, and the support he provided over the years.

“He was supremely relational – regardless of status – and he lived out his call for the shepherd to be close to the sheep.

“He saw those who sought, however poorly and fallibly, to follow Christ as brothers and sisters. Whether they were in prisons or palaces, slums or stadiums, made no difference.”