More than 19,000 people pay homage to pope in first nine hours
In the first nine hours that Pope Francis’ body had lain in state in St. Peter’s Basilica, more than 19,000 people stood in line for hours in the sun to pray and pay homage to him.
The doors of the basilica opened to the public a little after 11 a.m. local time after the pope’s simple wooden casket was transferred from his residence during a solemn prayer service. As of 7:30 p.m., 19,430 people had gone into the basilica, Matteo Bruni, head of the Vatican press office, told reporters at a news briefing April 23.
Thousands of people stood in line from three to five hours to see the pope, according to a small sample of visitors. The press office said the basilica was ready to extend its opening hours past midnight if the lines required they do so.