Queues of faithful filed into St. Peter's throughout the night and in the early hours of Friday, on the last day to bid farewell to Pope Francis ahead of his funeral on Saturday.

Vatican authorities kept St. Peter's Basilica open all night as an estimated 50,000 people lined around St. Peter's Square and out of the Vatican into Rome to view the body of Pope Francis lying in state.

The Vatican said more than 90,000 people had bid farewell to the pontiff by Thursday evening at the basilica, which will stay open into the night as long as there are mourners.