Vatican overrun as mourners snap ghoulish photos of Pope Francis lying in state
Thousands of mourners are flocking to the Vatican to pay their respects to
Pope Francis
, who is lying in state. Some have even taken the opportunity to snap a quick photo of the late pontiff.
The Holy See has indicated that they
may need to extend the viewing hours
for the pope's coffin tonight due to the massive crowds that lined the streets of the Vatican on Wednesday. They were hoping to
catch a glimpse of Francis
inside St. Peter's Basilica following
his death
at the age of 88 on Easter Monday.
The lines in the late afternoon were reportedly at least eight hours long, and those who do make it inside the
chapel
will only have a few seconds to view his body before being moved along.
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While some mourners have taken to being respectful to the deceased Pope, other have taken out their cameras to snap a pic of the man's body
(Image: Getty Images)
In an attempt to prolong the moment, some visitors have been seen taking out their camera phones and snapping a picture of the
pope's body from behind the cordon
. One photo taken inside the basilica showed phones being held high above the crowd, while some of the faithful also held up homemade banners.
Others chose to commemorate the solemn occasion in a more traditional manner, bowing their heads and saying prayers as they filed past the coffin. Many of those paying their respects had initially come to Rome to celebrate Easter, only to be greeted with the news of Francis' death on Monday, reports
the Mirror
.
Many of those paying their respects had initially come to Rome to celebrate Easter, only to be greeted with the news of Francis' death on Monday
(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)
'I was very moved coming so close to Pope Francis, but it was awful seeing so many people taking pictures," Catherine Gilsenan said. 'Around half the people near us wanted to pay respects at the coffin, but the other half were all taking photographs."
'We kept our phones very firmly in our pockets and would never dream of doing something so distasteful," Gilsenan added. 'People had been told not to use selfie sticks but lots ignored the warning. "
Francis was laid to rest in St Peter's Basilica this Tuesday, his body adorned in red vestments with a rosary in hand and a bishop's mitre atop his head
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
'I saw the Queen lying in state in London and there was no comparison — this really detracted from the moment," added Gilsenan. Martin said: 'We were staying 100 miles from Rome when we heard he'd died and felt obligated to join the queue."
"Francis was a great Pope and we admired him for changing the direction of the Church and shifting its appeal to young people," he said. 'It was sad to see such disrespectful behavior.'
Mourners can visit and pay homage to him for three days, leading up to his internment this Saturday.
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Francis was laid to rest in St. Peter's Basilica this Tuesday, his body adorned in red vestments with a rosary in hand and a bishop's mitre atop his head. His final resting pose differed from past traditions, as he lay on the main altar of the grand basilica, instead of elevated aloft, fulfilling his wish for a humbler farewell ceremony aligned with his advocacy for a simple papacy, close to the plight of the needy.
Mourners can visit and pay homage to him for three days, leading up to his internment this Saturday.
A woman who came to honor him expressed her awe to journalists: "It gave me chills. He was important to me because he encouraged co-existence. He brought many people together."
In the background, the Vatican's cardinals are discreetly making arrangements for the funeral and organizing the upcoming conclave, where 135 cardinals below 80 years of age will select the new pope, anticipated to be one of their own. The commencement of the conclave is slated for no earlier than May 5.
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