Pope Francis latest: Thousands queuing as first mourners file past pontiff's open casket
Our team in Rome has just given us a little information from the Vatican.
There are 20,000 people crowding St Peter's Square at the moment, according to estimations.
Around 80 cardinals have arrived in the Italian capital, although it is unclear how many of them are electors (those who will have a say on who the next pontiff will be).
And to give you a sense of the global attention, 2,000 journalists have applied for accreditation - which gives them access to events at the Vatican.
An extra press room is being set up to accommodate the media.
First mourners file in to see the Pope lying in state
We're seeing the first mourners file into St Peter's Basilica to pay respects to Pope Francis - you can also watch live in the stream at the top of the page.
This is the first of three days for public viewing, with the pontiff's funeral taking place on Saturday.
The basilica is open until midnight and tomorrow mourners can enter from 7am and again have until midnight to see the Pope's body.
On Friday, entry is from 7am, but it will close to the public at the earlier time of 7pm.
All given times are local.
In pictures: Crowds wait outside St Peter's Basilica
The public will be allowed into St Peter's Basilica in just a few minutes to see the Pope's coffin.
Crowds have packed the Vatican, and they have until midnight today to see the pontiff's body.
View from St Peter's Square: Sense of peace for faithful
Our correspondent Lisa Holland has just watched this morning's procession in St Peter's Square.
"It's been a difficult time for followers of the Catholic Church seeing Pope Francis be so unwell over these past few months," she says.
"So now there's a sense of peace that they can be with him to pay their respects."
Speaking to those gathered, she says itis clear that people have made considerable sacrifices to be a part of today's proceedings.
One young man came from America for the now-suspended canonisation of the first saint of the millennial generation, Carlo Acutis.
Another woman cycled a huge distance to get in line to see the Pope.
"Whether it is just being in the square or actually queuing to try to go and personally pay their respects to Pope Francis lying in state, these people making huge strides just to be part of [it]," Holland says.
In pictures: Pope Francis lies in state
Pope Francis is now lying in state in St Peter's Basilica.
At his request, his coffin was placed low to the ground - breaking for the first time the Vatican's tradition to place the body of the pontiff on a catafalque.
Ceremony concludes - with public mourning to begin shortly
With the arrival of Pope Francis's coffin inside St Peter's Basilica and the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, the procession (or "translation" as it's also known) is complete.
Those gathered will now make their way out of the basilica after filing past the pontiff - leaving the Pope to lie in state.
Public viewings of the Pope's coffin begin at about 10am UK time.
Cardinal delivers liturgy
Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell has just completed the Liturgy of the Word.
He and others read from sections of the bible, met with occasional responses from the congregation.
They also sang the Lord's Prayer in Latin.
A choir now sings to mark the end of the process.
Pope's body 'purified' with incense
Ahead of the Liturgy of the Word, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, sprinkled the body of Pope Francis with holy water and "purified" it with incense.
It harks back to the birth of Christ - with one of the gifts brought by the three wise men being incense.
The cardinal will now read from the gospel.
Prayer service to take place ahead of public mourning
The translation - or transference of Pope Francis's coffin to St Peter's Basilica - is almost over.
Next is the Liturgy of the Word - which is a part of the Catholic mass made up of bible readings.
The public will be able to come and view the Pope lying in state in a little over an hour's time.
Coffin reaches St Peter's Basilica
Pope Francis's body and the accompanying procession have just entered St Peter's Basilica.
Each of the saints are now called, by song, to pray for Pope Francis.
There will be a prayer service before the public are allowed to enter to pay their final respects.
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