Among those filing past the coffin, some blessing themselves with the sign of the cross or pausing briefly in prayer, were a mother and daughter who described it as a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience.
Primary school teacher Marguerite O'Leary and her teenage daughter Ellen, from County Clare in Ireland, stood for more than five hours on Wednesday to be among the first members of the public to see the late pontiff's remains inside St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
Mrs O'Leary said she felt it was their "duty to represent the people of Ireland when we were lucky enough to be here" in the days following the Pope's death aged 88 on Easter Monday, while her 14-year-old daughter described it as "amazing to be in there" and a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".
Meanwhile, Patrick Gavigan, based in Kildare, said it was "momentous" to be inside the basilica to witness the Pope's remains close up after queuing with his wife Alice for almost four hours.
