World mourns Pope Francis as 20,000 people queue to visit his body lying in state at Vatican in 3 days before funeral

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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.

Pope Francis lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica. — The body of Pope Francis lies inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Wednesday

A woman crying at a ceremony for Pope Francis. — A woman reacts as Francis’ body was led in procession through the Vatican

Large crowd of people queuing outside St. Peter's Basilica. — The faithful queue to catch a glimpse of the late Pontiff

A nun crying during a procession. — A nun cries as the body of Pope Francis is carried into St. Peter’s Basilica

Pope Francis's coffin being carried into St. Peter's Basilica. — Pope Francis’ body is carried in an open coffin

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.

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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