Tens of thousands bid farewell to the dead Pope Francis

The queue of people that has formed in front of the entrance to St Peter's Basilica since Wednesday morning is almost ten metres wide and hundreds of metres long. Thousands of people are waiting in early summer temperatures to get into the largest church in the world to say goodbye to Pope Francis.

Some have put up colourful umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun, and almost everyone - with the exception of the clergy and religious in their vestments - is wearing casual clothes. When the barriers were finally opened after the solemn ceremony inside St Peter's Basilica with lots of incense and Latin chants, there were initially minor irregularities. Individuals climbed over barriers to secure earlier access. However, the flow soon moved into the church in an orderly fashion.

First the cardinals and clergy, then the people

There, in strict order of precedence, first the cardinals, then the archbishops and bishops, followed by the monsignors and priests, paid their last respects to the Pope by bowing before the open coffin. They were followed by the confessors of St Peter's Basilica, all Franciscans in their habit, and then the Vatican staff.

Among the first women at the coffin was the nun Raffaella Petrini, who was appointed Vatican governor by the Pope while still on his sickbed. The Pope's personal carer, Massimilano Strappetti, was also among the mourners. He was among the few people who had accompanied the Pope as he died in his flat in Santa Marta early on Monday morning.

Just like the Vatican employees before him, the crowds of people who have since passed by the open coffin have only had a brief opportunity to take a look at the body. Unlike his predecessors, Francis is not lying completely open on pillows on a catafalque, but half concealed in a wooden coffin.

His partially damaged face can only be seen from a few metres away, while barriers around the coffin ensure that no one gets too close. Stewards ensure that the flow of people saying their farewells does not come to a standstill for long. Those looking for a moment of prayer or silent remembrance can find it elsewhere in the huge basilica.

From time to time, state guests and other celebrities who come through separate entrances can be allowed to approach the coffin. However, they do not disrupt the flow of pilgrims and approach the Pope from the side.

Italy's political celebrities were already there

Some mourners already had the opportunity to bid farewell to the Pope on Monday and Tuesday during the first laying out of his body at his place of death in the Santa Marta guest house. The most prominent among them on Tuesday were Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Senate President Ignazio La Russa, Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Rome's Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni. The latter had exchanged Easter greetings with the Pope for the last time just a few days earlier.

In order to allow as many people as possible to say goodbye to the Pope, St Peter's Basilica will remain open until midnight for two days and until 7pm on Friday. The ceremonial closing of the coffin is scheduled for Friday evening at 8pm. It will then be placed in St Peter's Square on Saturday during the funeral mass.

At midday, the deceased Bishop of Rome will make a final journey through his city before being laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. There, too, a large crowd is expected in the square in front of the church.