20,000 people form EIGHT-HOUR queues to see Pope Francis’s body and pay last respect

More than 20,000 mourners have formed eight-hour queues at the Vatican as they wait to pay their respects to the late Pope Francis today

St. Peter’s Basilica was opened to the public this morning so the faithful can say their final goodbyes to Francis as he lies in state for the next three days.

Thousands of people have already flooded the central aisle of the basilica, some crying and others taking a moment for prayer as they pass the pontiff’s open coffin.

Worshippers recalled waiting five hours just to enter St. Peter’s and said they then had to queue for another hour once inside the basilica, NBC News reports.

Tens-of-thousands of people are currently queuing in three lines, but mourners say the queues are moving ‘fairly quickly’ as people usher out after paying their respects.

One woman told the news outlet that her final goodbye was brief, sharing how she just simply blew a kiss towards the pontiff’s open casket.

But Vatican sources told Sky News that the queue is currently taking eight hours to get through, meaning St. Peter’s could close at midnight before mourners in the back may get a chance to pay their respects.

The timeframe for pilgrims to visit the pope’s body may be extended until beyond midnight today due to the large number of visitors, the Vatican said in a statement.

The basilica will reopen at 7am tomorrow and remain open until at least midnight to allow as many people as possible to file past. The final day of lying in state will end at 7pm so that St. Peter’s can be prepared for Francis’ funeral mass on Saturday.

Over the coming days, tens of thousands of people are expected to pass through the basilica to see Francis lie in state and at least 200,000 people are expected to attend the outdoor funeral service on Saturday.

The pope’s body was moved this morning to St. Peter’s Basilica for three days of public mourning for an Argentine pontiff remembered for his humble style, concern for the poor and insistent prayers for peace.

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