The public can begin visiting Pope Francis’s tomb at the Roman basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore “as early as Sunday morning”, Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, announced.
The Vatican media said nearly 50,000 people have flooded the basilica to pay homage to the late pontiff, laid out since Wednesday in an open coffin ahead of his funeral on Saturday.
The funeral of Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, will take place at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Basilica before his coffin is transferred to the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica later in the day.
AFP