Some mourners have been branded as "disrespectful" after they took selfies with Pope Francis' body.
Pope Francis passed away aged 88 on Easter Monday, and mourners are now flooding to the Vatican to pay their respects.
Francis had been visibly frail in recent months. He was hospitalized multiple times earlier this year with bronchitis and pneumonia, and was diagnosed with anemia and mild kidney failure.
On Easter Sunday, just a day before his death, he circled St Peter’s Square in his Popemobile, blessing children and waving to crowds who were chanting “Viva il Papa” - "Long live the Pope."
Vatican doctors later confirmed he had slipped into a coma after a severe cerebral stroke, followed by irreversible heart failure.
Despite being gravely ill, the Pope remained determined to fulfill his duties. At the time of his death, he was under strict medical orders to rest but insisted on continuing public appearances.
On Wednesday, thousands descended upon Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, where the Pope’s body lay in state.
Draped in his red papal robe and white mitre, Pope Francis clutched his rosary, lying in a modest wooden coffin on a raised platform.
Officials released photographs of the scene, showing swarms of people surrounding the body, many with phones raised high in the air.
Some images went viral online, including one Instagram post of a smiling woman in a headscarf, with the Pope’s body clearly visible just feet behind her, as seen by the Daily Mail.
While the Vatican did not ban photography, guards reportedly intervened when some mourners got too morbid with their shots. The outpouring of selfies triggered a backlash among those who queued for hours in silence and prayer.
“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,” said mourner Janine Venables to the Daily Mail. “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.”
The pair added: "[It's] sad to see such disrespectful behaviour."
One Vatican source commented: “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.”
Despite the controversy, tributes continued to pour in. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited the casket, recalling Francis' ability to make others feel at ease, no matter their station.
“With him you were at ease, you could open up, without filters, without fear of being judged,” she said. “He could see your soul, lay it bare.”
Mourning for the late pontiff has spanned continents, with the funeral scheduled for Saturday in St Peter’s Square.