Today marks the final chance for people to file through the Vatican City before St Peter’s Basilica closes its Holy doors – and say their goodbyes to Pope Francis.
As dawn breaks over Rome, the queue to see the pontiff’s open coffin is already snaking past the colonnades.
It is a testament to Francis’ legacy after he reshaped the Catholic Church over his 13-year tenure.
All mourners want is a fleeting moment beside the simple wooden coffin of the pontiff under Michelangelo’s golden dome.
Francis has been laid in front of the Papal Altar, stood over by four Swiss Guards – the traditional guard of honour of the papacy.
It is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bear witness to a moment in history to be remembered for generations ahead.
St Peter’s Square had already transformed into a jungle – pilgrims praying, tourists clutching selfie sticks, TV crews rushing to find a vantage filming spot and Vatican volunteers shouting directions in half a dozen languages.
As the 7pm cutoff looms today, tensions are mounting and the atmosphere has shifted dramatically.
Some have come early – before work – to see if they can make it in time, but mostly the crowd is made up of Italians who had travelled from all corners of the world and tourist.
More than 61,000 people have queued to see the pontiff since Wednesday ahead of the funeral, Vatican officials said.
By nightfall yesterday, lines had formed for just under a mile north of the Vatican.
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Some pilgrims reported waits – at some points during rainfall – of at least three hours to make it inside.
Late into the night, people were shown running to join the end of the queue for a chance to pay their respects to Francis.
They had left it until the very last minute in the hopes that mostly people would have surrendered and gone home.
St Peter’s Basilica had initially been scheduled to close at midnight on Wednesday but given the size of the crowds, officials kept it open until 5.30am before it reopened at 7am.
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