The Vatican has released the first photos that show Pope Francis lying in state after the head of the Catholic church died on Easter Monday.

Vatican authorities kept St. Peter's Basilica open all night as an estimated 50,000 people lined around St. Peter's Square and out of the Vatican into Rome to view the body of Pope Francis lying in state.

So many people lined up to see Pope Francis lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica that the Vatican kept the doors open all night, closing for just one hour from 6 a.m. until 7 a.m.