Early in the morning: people crowd in a kilometer-long queue in front of St. Peter's Basilica

From Christoph Sator

Vatican City - On the second day of Pope Francis ' (†88) lying in state, countless faithful wait early for admission to St. Peter's Basilica. The queue is already extremely long in the morning.

Early in the morning, a kilometer-long queue formed in front of St. Peter's Square.
Early in the morning, a kilometer-long queue formed in front of St. Peter's Square.  © Michael Kappeler/dpa

After only a short break in the early morning, St. Peter's Basilica was reopened for the public laying out of the dead pontiff. Thousands of people once again filed past the open coffin.

Even before 8 a.m., a queue of believers formed in front of St. Peter's Square and the security checkpoint, about one kilometer long.

This led in part in zigzag lines across adjacent squares and side streets. Law enforcement officers and volunteers regulated the traffic around the people.

At 7 a.m., security guards finally began to let the faithful into the church. Francis will be laid out in the open coffin until Friday evening before it is closed for the funeral service and burial on Saturday.

The faithful sought out the Pope's body in St. Peter's Basilica until the early hours of the morning.
The faithful sought out the Pope's body in St. Peter's Basilica until the early hours of the morning.  © Michael Kappeler/dpa

St. Peter's Basilica remains open longer than planned

The Holy See had actually planned to keep St. Peter's Basilica open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday. However, due to the large crowds, those responsible decided to let people into the cathedral even after midnight.

In a livestream from the basilica, it was possible to see how people who had previously waited for hours for admission were repeatedly allowed in until the early hours of the morning.