Some 48,600 had paid homage to Pope
Francis as his body lies in state in St Peter's Basilica between
the opening of the cathedral to the public at 11:00 on Wednesday
and 8:30 on Thursday, Vatican media said.
The basilica had been scheduled to close at midnight but the
queues to visit the remains of the late pontiff, who died aged
88 on Monday after 12 years at the helm of the Catholic Church,
were so long that the Vatican kept it open until 5.30 on
Thursday, before reopening it two hours later.
Around 13,000 people visited between midnight and 5.30.
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