Rome, Apr. 23, (dpa/GNA) – Some 100,000 people were waiting on Wednesday afternoon to enter St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican to pay their last respects to the late Pope Francis, the Italian news agency ANSA reported, citing an estimate by the Vatican’s security service.
The queue outside what is considered to be the mother church at the spiritual and historical centre of Catholicism was growing longer by the hour.
The pope’s body was transferred to the basilica in the heart of Rome on Wednesday morning. Since 11 am (0900 GMT), the basilica has been open to the public, but there are long waiting times. The pope’s body is lying in state in a simple wooden casket.
The basilica was originally supposed to remain open until midnight. However, the crowds were so large that the Vatican has not ruled out keeping the basilica open longer than originally announced. More people were expected, particularly in the late afternoon and evening.
On Thursday, St Peter’s Basilica is also expected to be open from 7 am to midnight, and on Friday from 7 am to 7 pm. The pope is then due to be buried on Saturday.
GNA
PDC