Tens of thousands pay their final respects to Pope Francis at St. Peter's

The latest news on Vatican City. On Thursday, Vatican City witnessed a powerful display of devotion as thousands of mourners, from across the globe, stood for hours in line to pay their respects to Pope Francis.

The queues stretched around St. Peter's Square, a testament to the profound impact he had. His open-topped coffin, placed at the central altar of St. Peter's Basilica, became a silent centre of reflection for over 90,000 visitors who had filed past by the evening.

Among the crowd were devout Catholics from various corners of the world, including the United States, Italy, and Brazil. The pope's legacy as a champion for the marginalised resonated deeply with many, as people shared personal stories of his influence.

As security measures heightened for the upcoming funeral, the world now awaits the final chapter of Pope Francis's remarkable reign, whose body is resting in St. Peter's Basilica in preparation for his funeral on Saturday. You can learn more about the funeral here.