Thousands of faithful gathered since from early hours of Sunday at Rome's Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pray and pay their respects to Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. The flow of faithful has continued uninterrupted since 7 am when the basilica opened its doors,

Crowds of mourners waited in line on Sunday for a chance to visit Pope Francis’ final resting place in the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome, a day after his funeral service that was attended by world leaders and royalty.

Re called Francis “a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone.” He recalled the last image many people have of Francis was of him delivering what would become his final blessing on Easter Sunday, and saluting from the popemobile in the same piazza where his funeral was being celebrated.