'Francis taught us not just how to live, but how to die'
Darkness had long since descended on Saint Peter's Square, and still huge queues of people snaked their way around, as parishioners waited patiently to enter the Basilica of Saint Peter to pay their final respects to Pope Francis.
Diarmuid, Brian and Naoise Ó Dálaigh, from Midleton in Co Cork, joined the queue late in the evening, but felt the long wait would be worth the sacrifice.
"It's a unique opportunity in church life and in the faith journey to be present at a Papal funeral, of whatever kind," Diarmuid said.
"The man himself was so gentle, so humble, so good to the poor and an inspiration to many throughout the world. So, I think he deserves it.
"And a few hours queuing now in the dark on a nice, cool, Roman evening won't kill us."
Entrance to St Peter's Basilica was held open all night to afford the tens of thousands of people a chance to pay their final respects to the pontiff. Norman Devira from London explains why Pope Francis was a figure of immense significance for the gay community in particular.
"I grew up Catholic, so I just wanted to go and see Pope Francis, it's an historic moment," he said.
"The legacy of Pope Francis for me is the semi-acceptance of us gays. I go to mass every Sunday and what that means to me is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel."
Professor Eamonn Conway, a priest of the Tuam Diocese, working at the University of Notre Dame in Australia arrived in Rome yesterday and spoke about the legacy he feels Pope Francis leaves behind.
"He was first and foremost a pastor. He had the heart of a pastor. Francis allowed himself to be touched, above all, by those who were vulnerable," Prof Conway said.
"His last major document was on the Sacred Heart. For him it was all about the heart and allowing the heart to speak.
"If there was one word I would associate with Pope Francis, it is mercy. It wasn't that he wasn't concerned about justice, however. I think he was horrified and wanted justice for those who were wronged and hurt by the church. I think he absolutely wanted that."
Reflecting on the passing of the pontiff at the age of 88, Professor Conway said he had a "great sense that this was his time to let go".
"I think the Synod will be his lasting contribution, as well as the witness he gave to a more caring and compassionate church. But his time had come.
"That was my sense of it. I wasn't at all surprised or disturbed. When I saw him on Easter Sunday and the struggle that was there, I said this is a man who has made up his mind, that it's his time to let go.
"He wanted to say goodbye in his own way. I think it's a tremendous gift that he got the opportunity to do so.
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