Storm clouds gather as Vatican prepares for Pope’s burial

Gloomy skies above the Vatican matched the sombre mood of mourners making for a fitting final day of public viewing of Pope Francis’ coffin. See the photos.

Dark clouds set the scene as hoards of Catholic devotees solemnly lined up for a final chance to say goodbye to their beloved pontiff.

Friday was the last opportunity for those not invited to Saturday’s funeral to catch a glimpse of 88-year-old Pope Francis lying in state.

Here are some of the most powerful pictures to emerge so far.

Nuns look on as they queue to enter the Vatican, with St Peter's Basilica in the background. Picture: AFP

A pedestrian takes a picture as visitors queue to access St Peter's Basilica. Picture: AFP

Workers build a tribune with the St Peter's Basilica of the Vatican in the background, on Via della Conciliazione street in Rome. Picture: AFP

Pope Francis’s appeal went far beyond those within the Catholic Church, as could be seen by the tens of thousands of people who turned out to pay their respects.

Mourners from far and wide have poured into St Peter’s Basilica to view the body of Pope Francis as he lies in an open wooden coffin in the Vatican City’s St Peter’s Basilica.

Church bells solemnly tolled, some gathered broke into respectful applause as the large crowd looked on when the coffin was carried through the square and into the basilica.

The tragedy of Pope Francis’ death is written on everyone’s faces, with plenty of people shedding tears.

People queue with umbrellas on St Peter's Square to access the basilica where the late Pope lies in state. Picture: AFP

A Christian nun prays during a memorial mass for the late Pope Francis at the Chaldean Catholic Church of St Joseph in Baghdad. Picture: AFP

A picture of late Pope Francis is seen as German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier signs a condolence book and as his wife Elke Buedenbender, Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference Georg Baetzing and Archbishop and Apostolic Nuncio to Germany Nikola Eterovic stand at the Apostolic Nunciature in Berlin. Picture: AFP

Meanwhile, services continued to be held around the globe for those unable to make the trek to the Vatican.

The body of Pope Francis lies in state inside St Peter's Basilica. Picture: Getty Images

A close up of Pope Francis’s hands and the rosary beads he is clutching as he lies in state. Picture: Getty Images

Faithful leave St Peter's Basilica after viewing the body of Pope Francis. Picture: Getty Images

Faithful are emotional as they leave St Peter's Basilica. Picture: Getty Images

The late Pope Francis is transferred into the basilica at St Peter’s. Picture: Getty Images

Thousands of mourners gathered St. Peter's Basilica. Picture: AP

Nuns wait in St. Peter's Square to pay their respect to the late Pope Francis. Picture: AP

A nun cries as the body of Pope Francis is carried into St. Peter's Basilica. Picture: AP

The procession with the body of Pope Francis, who will lie in state for three days, enters St. Peter's Basilica. Picture: AP

Nuns arrive in St. Peter's Square as they await the arrival of the body of Pope Francis. Picture: AP

A woman sits on the Angels Unawares sculpture by Canadian artist Timothy P. Schmalz, which was inaugurated by the late Pope Francis and depicts migrants and refugees throughout history, in St. Peter's Square. Picture: AP

A woman tears up after seeing the coffin of Pope Francis carried through the square. Picture: AP

Nuns watch St. Peter's Basilica after the body of Pope Francis was carried through the Square. Picture: AP

Cardinals stand by the body of Pope Francis after it arrived in St. Peter's Basilica. Picture: AP

In photos: See the greatest moments of Pope Francis’s life

From petting a tiger and signing a ‘Holy Davidson’ motorcycle to becoming an honorary member of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team, Pope Francis lived a life full of heartwarming moments.

Following his passing at age 88 on Monday, just one day after making a surprise appearance in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, we revisit some of his most memorable occasions in pictures.

Pope Francis in one of his last photos taken on the main balcony of St. Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations, at St Peter's square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. Picture: AFP

Pope Francis during a private meeting with Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in The Vatican on April 9. Picture: Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP

Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar (L) shakes hands with Pope Francis after an interreligious meeting with religious leaders at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta on September 5, 2024. Picture: AFP

Pope Francis gestures to Catholic faithful after leading holy mass at the Esplanade of Tasitolu in Dili, East Timor, on September 10, 2024. Picture: AFP

Pope Francis during the Easter 'Urbi et Orbi' message and blessing to the City and the World from the central loggia of St Peter's basilica in The Vatican on March 31, 2024. Picture: Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP

Pope Francis leaves the Gemelli hospital on April 1, 2023 in Rome, after being discharged following treatment for bronchitis. Picture: AFP

Pope Francis meets a man wearing a Spider-Man costume, who presented him with his mask, at the end of his weekly general audience with a limited number of faithful in the San Damaso Courtyard at the Vatican, on June 23, 2021. Picture: AP

Pope Francis signs a Harley Davidson motorbike – aka ‘Holy Davidson’ – brought by members of an association of Jesus Bikers International who attended his weekly general audience, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on May 29, 2019. Picture: NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Pope spinning a basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters. The Pope was recognised as an honorary member when they took their show to Rome in 2015. He was gifted a No. 90 jersey with “Pope Francis” on the back.

Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, on March 13, 2013. Picture: AP

Pope Francis meets Pope emeritus Benedict XVI in Castel Gandolfo on March 23, 2013 for a lunch. Picture: AP/Osservatore Romano, HO

Pope Francis holding the microphone for a journalist to speak as he gives a news conference aboard the papal plane on his flight back to Rome after visiting Cyprus and Greece on December 6, 2021. Picture: Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP

Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican on September 30, 2020 during the Covid-19 outbreak. Picture: AFP

Pope Francis at the San Paolo della Croce parish in Corviale, a suburb of Rome, for a pastoral visit on April 15, 2018. Picture: NurPhoto via Getty Images

Pope Francis waves to the faithful as he arrives to lead the Holy Mass at Phoenix Park in Dublin on August 26, 2018, during his visit to Ireland to attend the 2018 World Meeting of Families. Picture: AFP

A panning photo shows Pope Francis waving to the crowd as he arrives for a weekly general audience on October 25, 2017, at St Peter's square in Vatican. Picture: AFP

Pope Francis caresses a young tiger during a meeting with the participants in the Jubilee of the World of Travelling Shows at Paul VI audience hall on June 16, 2016 in Vatican. Picture: AFP

Pope Francis (C) releases a dove as a symbol of peace during a meeting with Chaldean community at the Catholic Church of St Simon Bar Sabbae in Tbilisi, on September 30, 2016. Picture: AFP

Pope Francis attends his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square on November 26, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. Picture: Getty

Pope Francis greets the faithful as he holds Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square on April 20, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. Picture: Getty Images

The wind blows Pope Francis's mantle as he speaks at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the World Youth Day on July 25, 2013. Picture: AFP

Originally published as Storm clouds gather as Vatican prepares for Pope’s burial