Pope Francis' tomb opens to visitors at Roman basilica, as 200K attend special Mass at St Peter's Square

The tomb of Pope Francis opened for visitors at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome on Sunday, a day after world leaders and a crowd of hundreds of thousands attended the funeral of the late leader of the Catholic Church. 

Roman Catholic faithful are filing past the simple white tomb in St. Mary Major Basilica. Many are administering the sign of the cross or snapping photos on their cell phones, as ushers urge them to keep moving to accommodate the thousands who flocked to the Rome basilica to see the tomb, forming a long line outside. The tomb was opened on the second of nine days of official mourning for Francis, after which a conclave will be held to elect the next pope.

A single white rose was placed on the tomb that said "Franciscus" – the pope's name in Latin. A light cast its warm glow over the tomb and a reproduction of the late pontiff's pectoral cross on the wall above it. 

The wait time is about an hour, according to SkyTV. Some visitors arrived before dawn ...