Thousands wait to see Pope’s body in St Peter’s

Tens of thousands of mourners have lined up for a chance to pay their respects to Pope Francis, whose body has been displayed in an open coffin in St Peter’s Basilica.
On Wednesday morning, as many as 20,000 people gathered to witness red-robed cardinals and white-clad priests escort the coffin from the Pope’s personal residence.
Bells tolled during the 40-minute procession, while the crowd broke into applause – a traditional Italian sign of respect.
Nine days of mourning will be observed in the Vatican, while the Pope’s funeral will be held on Saturday.
The 88-year-old died on Monday after suffering a stroke. He had spent five weeks in hospital earlier this year with double pneumonia.

Source: BBC | Language: English