Crowds honour Francis as he lies in state at St Peter’s Basilica

Tens of thousands of mourners lined up to pay their respects to the Argentine pontiff at the start of three days of public viewing ahead of his funeral on Saturday, following a solemn procession to transfer his coffin to the basilica.

Pallbearers carrying the coffin of late Pope Francis during the procession from the chapel of Santa Marta to St Peter's Basilica. Picture: AFP.

A large crowd broke into applause as the body of Pope Francis was carried across St Peter’s Square in a solemn procession on Wednesday morning.

Francis was carried in an open casket after a short ceremony inside the Santa Maria chapel, near to his residence, where he had been since the morning of Easter Monday after dying from a stroke and heart failure.

Pallbearers, next to Swiss Guards, carry the coffin of the late Pope Francis from the chapel of Santa Marta to St Peter's Basilica. Picture: AFP.

The bells tolled across Vatican City and then lead by priests, bishops, archbishops, and more than 200 cardinals, the procession made its way a short distance across Piazza Santa Marta, Piazza dei Protomartiri Romani and then into St Peter’s square before going up the front stairs of St Peter’s Basilica. All the while the Vatican choir sung Psalms 115 and 22.

As the open red lined casket passed by, carried by Catholic Church pall bearers and guarded by eight members of the Swiss Guard, people gasped.

Under clear blue skies and balmy temperatures, a group of nuns bowed their heads and wiped their eyes. People started to pray. Others captured pictures and video of the Pope, 88, on their mobile phones. Then a small ripple of applause broke out and spread across the square.

Sister Maria, in the crowd, said the moment had been “a very brief but highly significant moment of reflection of who Francis was”.

The body of Pope Francis is carried into St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Picture; AP.

A Lesotho delegation had been in Rome for the canonisation of the teenager Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, which was postponed after the death of Pope Francis. One of the Lesotho priests said it was “an honour” to be at the Vatican at this time.

Thousands of people had arrived hours before the procession to be able to be front of queue for the three day’s of lying in state before Saturday’s funeral. Tens of thousands of pilgrims are expected to view the body of Pope Francis in the open casked inside the Basilica before the casket is nailed shut shortly before Saturday’s funeral.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the cameralengo, led the short prayer service before the procession began saying: “Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, we now accompany the mortal remains of our Pope Francis to the Vatican Basilica. As we now leave this home, let us thank the Lord for the countless gifts that he bestowed on the Christian people through his servant.”

Inside the Basilica each of the Saints were called by song to pray for Pope Francis.

Keith Pitt, Australia’s ambassador to the Holy See told The Australian that Australia had had a particularly strong relationship with the Catholic Church since the former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer had established the diplomatic post back in 2009.

He will be part of an official Australian delegation attending the funeral.

“Australia has always had a strong relationship. I’m sure that relationship will continue. I’m just pleased to be playing a small part of recognising and paying respects to Francis,’’ he said.

“He was a remarkable person.’’

Mr Pitt was at the Easter Sunday mass at St Peter’s Square and witnessed the last public activity of the late Pope, meeting and blessing children.