Over 48,000 Visit St Peter’s Basilica to Pay Homage to Late Pope Francis

Vatican City: Over 48,000 people have paid their respects to Pope Francis as his body lies in state at St Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican reported that 48,600 visitors came to honor the late pope between the opening of the cathedral to the public at 11:00 on Wednesday and 8:30 on Thursday.

According to Ansa News Agency, the basilica was initially scheduled to close at midnight. However, due to the lengthy queues of mourners wishing to visit the remains of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 after 12 years of leading the Catholic Church, the Vatican extended its hours until 5:30 on Thursday morning. The basilica then reopened two hours later to accommodate the continuous influx of visitors.

During the extended hours from midnight to 5:30, approximately 13,000 people visited the basilica. The Vatican’s decision to stay open longer reflects the significant number of individuals wanting to pay their final respects to the beloved pontiff.