Crowds of mourners waited in line on Sunday for a chance to visit Pope Francis’ final resting place in the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome, a day after his funeral service that was attended by world leaders and royalty.

Francis opted for burial in Santa Maria Maggiore, located in Rome's most multi-cultural neighbouhood. No pope has been laid to rest outside the Vatican in more than a century.

Pope Francis chose his place of burial in St. Mary Major Basilica, near an icon of the Madonna that he revered, because it reflects his “humble, simple and essential" life.