Pope Francis's body moved to St Peter's Basilica for lying in state

The body of Pope Francis has been moved from his Vatican residence to St Peter's Basilica to allow the faithful to pay their respects before his funeral on Saturday.

The Pope's open coffin was carried by clergy on Wednesday morning in a solemn procession through St Peter's Square where thousands of worshippers had gathered.

As the coffin crossed the square, bells tolled and the crowds broke into rounds of applause - a traditional Italian sign of respect.

The Pope died on Monday aged 88 following a stroke and a battle with double pneumonia, for which he spent five weeks in hospital earlier this year. The first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church, he had held the role for 12 years.

On Wednesday, red-robed cardinals and white-clad priests walked the Pope's coffin from his personal residence at the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse to the St Peter's Basilica. The procession lasted a little under 40 minutes.

Swiss Guards, who are responsible for the Pope's safety, escorted his coffin to the church's altar.

His body will lie in state in the church until Friday evening. Public viewing began at 11:00 local time (10:00 BST) on Wednesday.

Crowds had been gathering since morning to pay their respects, with hundreds joining as the procession unfolded.

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Dignitaries from all over the world, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Prince William, are due to attend the Pope's funeral on Saturday.

Pope Francis left clear instructions that he wanted a smaller ceremony in keeping with his simpler tastes as pontiff. He had arranged for a benefactor to pay for it all.

Unlike the vast majority of his predecessors, he will also not be buried in St Peter's, but in a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in central Rome, beneath a tombstone inscribed only with his name.

Before being moved to St Peter's, Pope Francis had been lying in an open coffin in the chapel of his home, flanked by Swiss Guards and cardinals in prayer.

His Papal apartments have been sealed with wax - marking the start of the period known as the Sede Vacante - or empty seat – which continues until a new head of the church is elected.