Mourners who flocked to the Pope’s lying-in-state on Wednesday have blasted ghoulish social media users for snapping selfies next to his open casket.
After passing away aged 88 on Easter Monday, Francis’ body has been carried into Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City for the three-day ritual.
Around 50,000 faithful have paid respects to the late Pontiff, but some sparked fury after posting macabre selfies which saw Francis’ body laid out in robes in a wooden coffin in the background.
On Instagram, one image saw a woman in a headscarf smiling at the camera as she displayed the Pope clutching his rosary around 10ft behind her. His body, dressed in his white mitre and red Papal robe symbolising love and the blood of Christ, can clearly be seen in the coffin which lies on a raised platform.
Officials released photos of Francis in his velvet-lined coffin and did not ban public pictures, but guards reportedly stopped some morbid mourners using phone cameras.
Mourners who queued up eight hours to catch a final glimpse of the late Pope before he is buried on Saturday said the actions of the selfie-takers was ‘a bit in poor taste’.
Janine Venables, 53, from Pontypridd, south Wales told MailOnline: ‘What did surprise me is the fact that earlier we were told no photos in the Sistine Chapel and here people were getting their phone out and doing selfies with the coffin.
‘I did think that was a bit in poor taste and I’m surprised no one stopped them.’
Her husband, Paul Taylor, added:’ I said to someone in the queue ‘I wonder what Pope Francis would make of all this?’ and they said ‘He would say don’t waste your time here go and do something for people less fortunate’. He was probably right.’
A Vatican source said: ‘It would be good if people could try and remember where they are and have a little respect but there’s little else that can be done.’
One faithful said the atmosphere was ruined by people ‘ignoring warnings’ and taking photos instead of paying proper respects.
The devoted faithful explained that she and her husband kept their phones in their pockets throughout the experience, adding that it was ‘sad to see such disrespectful behaviour’.
Official images of first day from the lying-in-state showed swarms of people surrounding the simple coffin holding their phones in the air above their heads.
A sea of screens was seen floating around the Pope’s body, and some even extended selfie sticks in a bid to capture the best shot.
Nuns were also photographed gathering around the former head of the Catholic church with their phones in hand.
The incessant selfie-taking meant that for many, there was no silent reflection for faithfuls who had only just a fleeting moment with the Pope’s open coffin – a ritual steeped in hundreds of years of history and tradition.
When crowds arrived before the body of Francis in the basilica, they were requested to put away their selfie sticks, but the phone screens remained front and centre.
Some 19,430 people had been to the basilica ‘to pay homage to Pope Francis’ less than 12 hours after his coffin was transferred there, and where it will stay until Friday.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was among those who paid their respects to Francis yesterday, with photographs showing how she solemnly approached his casket just hours after having praised him during her address to Parliament.
Meloni celebrated Francis’ ability to talk freely with anyone, despite his exalted position, praised his fortitude and courage to ‘go against the current’, and shared with lawmakers some personal advice he gave her: ‘Never lose your sense of humour.’
‘With him you were at ease, you could open up, without filters, without fear of being judged,’ she added. ‘He could see your soul, lay it bare.’
While it had been expected that St, Peter’s would close at midnight on Wednesday and Thursday, it remained open throughout the night to allow more people to pay their respects.
By late yesterday evening, the wait appeared to be three or four hours and growing. An official doing crowd management estimated that the wait was closer to five hours.
Security measures have been heightened around the Vatican, with Italian police conducting foot and horse patrols in the area.
Police have been managing crowd control at various points on the approach to the square, with some checking bags, as mourners mingled with the usual tourist population.
Large crowds are expected for Saturday’s funeral in St Peter’s Square, with the Prince of Wales, a future head of the Church of England, confirmed to be attending on the King’s behalf.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will also be there, alongside other global leaders and dignitaries including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Irish premier Micheal Martin and Irish President Michael D Higgins.
In accordance with the late pope’s wishes, Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome, breaking with the tradition of papal burials in St Peter’s Basilica.
Asked about the route the pope’s remains will take from the square to his final resting place, the Vatican spokesman said he expects the Italian authorities will provide details in due course.
He added that it is likely St Mary Major will close for Saturday afternoon when the Pope’s remains arrive following the funeral, but reopen for people to take part in the rosary there on Saturday evening.
Huge crowds are expected today for a glimpse of Francis’s body on the second day of public tributes, after St Peter’s stayed open almost all night to accommodate the crowds.
The death of Francis capped a 12-year pontificate characterised by his concern for the poor and his message of inclusion, but he was also criticised by some conservatives who felt alienated by his progressive outlook.
A procession of priests, bishops and cardinals accompanied Francis’ body Wednesday on its journey from a private viewing inside the Vatican to St. Peter´s Square. The pageantry contrasted with the human interactions of rank-and-file mourners at the public viewing.
Following his funeral, all eyes will turn to the process to choose Francis’ successor. Cardinals from around the world are returning to Rome for the conclave, which will begin no fewer than 15 days and no more than 20 days after a pope’s death.
Only those under the age of 80 – currently some 135 cardinals – are eligible to vote.
Cardinals have agreed that the traditional nine days of mourning for the pope, the so-called ‘novemdiales’, will begin on Saturday and conclude on May 4.
Another meeting of cardinals of all ages was set for 9am (700 GMT) today. However, the Vatican brushed aside hopes of an announcement of the conclave date, insisting the focus is on the funeral.
At the time of his death, Francis was under doctors’ orders to rest for two months. But the headstrong pope continued to make public appearances despite appearing tired and short of breath.
On Easter Sunday, one day before he died, he circled St Peter’s Square in his popemobile to greet the crowds, stopping to kiss babies along the way.