Watch: Pope Francis lies in state as thousands pay their respects

After a religious service, the faithful and the general public will be allowed to visit the late pontiff until 7pm on Friday, with a funeral scheduled for the next morning

Pope Francis’s body has been moved to St Peter’s Basilica, where it will lie in state for three days. Picture: Alessandro Di Meo/ Pool Photo via AP

Thousands of people poured into St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, whose body is lying in state for three days ahead of his funeral on Saturday.

Crowds stretched down the main boulevard leading through Rome into the Vatican, pressing forward slowly in warm spring sunshine as people took their turn to see the late pontiff in his open coffin.