The last numbers released by the Vatican said more than 50,000 people had paid their last respects in the first 12 hours of the public viewing starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

St Peter's Basilica closed its doors just briefly in the early hours and then opened again on Thursday (April 24) to welcome crowds of worshippers from around the world lining up to pay their final respects to Pope Francis.

Rome is in mourning as the world says goodbye to Pope Francis, a transformative leader and spiritual guide to more than a billion Catholics. His death marks the end of an era and sets in motion a series of historic religious events that will impact travel to Rome and Vatican City in the coming weeks.