The basilica was bathed in a hushed silence as mourners from across the globe made a slow, shuffling procession up the main aisle to pay their last respects to Francis.

So many mourners lined up to see Pope Francis lying in St. Peter's Basilica that the Vatican kept the doors open all night due to higher-than-expected turnout.

St. Peter's Basilica opened its doors again on Thursday after a brief closure in the early hours to welcome crowds of worshippers from around the world lining up to pay their final respects to Pope Francis.