Tens of thousands of pilgrims have arrived in Rome to mark the death of Pope Francis
Metres from the Vatican walls, a group of mourners tells the BBC's Mark Lowen the air is thick with emotion
The pontiff's funeral will take place at the Vatican on Saturday morning, with Prince William due to attend alongside dozens of world leaders - who else is going?
Earlier, the Vatican shared images of the Pope in an open coffin alongside further details of the funeral arrangements
On Wednesday, the Pope's body will be moved to St Peter's Basilica for public mourning - how the day will unfold
From Argentina to Nigeria, the Philippines to Rome, here are the latest reflections from our correspondents
Italy's government has declared five days of national mourning following the death of Pope Francis.
The mourning will last until Saturday, when the late pontiff's funeral will be held outside St Peter's Basilica.
Image source, ReutersThe Pope's death and the choosing of his successor are creating renewed interest in the 2024 political thriller Conclave, starring Stanley Tucci and Ralph Fiennes.
The film tells the story of a fictional conclave, the secretive ritual where cardinals gather in the Vatican to elect a new Pope. A real life conclave is due to take place following the funeral of Pope Francis this weekend.
Conclave won several awards this year, including an Oscar for best adapted screenplay, as well as four Baftas, including best film.
The story is based on the 2016 bestselling novel by Robert Harris, who told the BBC last year he was inspired by the "riveting" and "raw" politics of papal conclaves.
He said he wrote the book because he "wanted to reflect the genuine divisions within the Church, which exist just as they exist within secular politics".
BBC Africa
There has been a lot of talk on whether the next Pope could come from Africa - and consequently make history as the "first African pope".
However, strictly speaking, there have already been at least three Popes from the continent.
All three were linked to regions of North Africa, which were part of the Roman Empire. The most recent, Pope Gelasius I, died more than 1,500 years ago.
So, if an African cardinal succeeds Pope Francis, they would technically be the first African Pope of modern times.
Watch: Might the next pope come from Africa?
Three African cardinals from DRC, Ghana and Guinea are among the contenders for the papacy so could the continent provide the first black pope of modern times?
The Archbishop of Abuja Ignatius Kaigama spoke to the BBC about his hopes for the new leader.
As we've been reporting, cardinals this morning set a date for Pope Francis's funeral - and soon they'll also decide on when to start the process to select his successor.
Once Francis is buried, the dean of the College of Cardinals has 15 to 20 days to summon the cardinals to Rome to begin the secretive ritual known as the conclave - from the Latin cum clave, meaning with a key - to choose the next Pope.
All conversations with outsiders are forbidden during this period.
Read more about how the cardinals come to their decision.
Caio Quero
BBC News Brasil editor, reporting from the Vatican
Image source, Getty ImagesBrazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has confirmed he will travel to Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.
Paying tribute to the late Pope, President Lula praised his commitment to fighting poverty and climate change. He also fondly recalled his love of football, calling him “the most Brazilian of Argentinians” – a playful nod to the fierce sporting rivalry between the two nations.
Pope Francis had a particularly close relationship with Brazil, home to the world’s largest Catholic population. His first international trip as Pope was to Brazil in July 2013. He also canonised two Brazilian religious figures and 30 Catholics martyred there in the 17th century.
Francis’s concern for the environment was reflected in his decision to convene the Amazon Synod, a major gathering of bishops focused on the preservation of the rainforest and the rights of its Indigenous peoples.
He shared a personal rapport with President Lula. In 2019, while Lula was imprisoned on corruption charges – later annulled by Brazil’s Supreme Court – the Pope sent him a letter expressing his “spiritual closeness”, a gesture that stirred controversy in the country at the time.
Ahead of Brazil’s presidential runoff in 2022, just days before Lula’s victory over Jair Bolsonaro, Francis publicly prayed for Brazilians during a Vatican audience, asking that Our Lady of Aparecida protect the people from “hatred, intolerance, and violence".
Image source, Getty ImagesA little earlier, we heard from Cardinal Michael Czerny, who says the prospect of taking part in the conclave is "an experience which I can hardly anticipate, and which afterwards I can't share".
"So the experience becomes confidential as well," he tells the BBC World Service's Newsday programme.
"The mystery of the conclave is to find the Holy Father whom God wills for us at this moment," Czerny says, adding that cardinals will look for a "full range of qualities and capacities that are necessary to carry out this very important mission".
Reflecting on Pope Francis's time as leader of the Catholic Church, Czerny says he "achieved more than he set out to do".
"When he began, I don’t think he realised how broad and deep the reform would be. He did more than he expected when he was elected," he says.
Image source, Getty ImagesPolish President Andrzej Duda and his wife, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, will attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, his office says.
In a post on X, the head of President Duda’s international policy office, Wojciech Kolarski, also says the president has decided to make Saturday a day of national mourning.
Image source, Getty ImagesPope Francis on his way to attend World Youth Day celebrations in Rio de Janeiro in 2013
It's just gone 12:30 in the Vatican (11:30 BST) and here's a look at the latest developments:
Image source, EPAEU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday, her office says.
She joins a number of leaders who have said they will attend the ceremony, including US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Image source, Getty ImagesAuthorities in Rome are getting ready for an influx of pilgrims travelling to pay their final respects to Pope Francis ahead of his funeral on Saturday.
Italy's state railways company Ferrovie dello Stato has put together a plan to manage the spike in demand, Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports, external.
Long-distance connections and travel to and from airports will be increased. Italy's civil protection agency will also help with logistics.
Large crowds have been visiting St Peter's Square over the last 24 hours and more are expected over the coming days as the Pope's body lies in state at St Peter's Basilica from Wednesday.
The latest images coming through show the arrival of cardinals, as well as people carrying crosses and reciting prayers.
Image source, Reuters
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Image source, Getty ImagesVladimir Putin visited Pope Francis in Vatican City in July 2019
Russian news agency Tass is reporting President Vladimir Putin doesn't plan to attend Pope Francis's funeral, citing the Kremlin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov.
According to the state-run agency, Peskov has told journalists "the president has no such plans" to travel to Vatican City for Saturday's service.
He adds no decision has been made on who would represent Russia at the funeral service.
Image source, ReutersAs we've been reporting, the Vatican released images of Pope Francis in an open coffin dressed in red robes in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, his home during his 12-year papacy.
The images also show Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell blessing the body of the late Pope during the rite of the declaration of death.
Open coffins are a common feature in Catholic funerals, which are typically ritualistic and elaborate ceremonies - but they are not a requirement. They allow loved ones to see the deceased for a final time before burial.
Image source, Getty ImagesAs we've been reporting, Pope Francis's coffin will be taken to St Peter's Basilica tomorrow for the public to pay their respects. He will then be laid to rest in Rome's Basilica of St Mary Major on Saturday.
St Peter's Basilica
Basilica of St Mary Major
Image source, Getty ImagesBasilica of St Mary Major
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from the Vatican
There’s a steady stream of people going into the church of St Mary Major, where the Pope has asked to be laid to rest after his funeral on Saturday.
Barriers stretching down the street indicate an even bigger influx is expected in the coming days.
A policeman tells me: “There’s lots of people here this morning, more than usual, and some have been quite emotional.
“People have been asking whether this is where the Pope will rest. We’re expecting lots more people from Saturday. They may well have to close off the square. But it’s nice to know this is where he’ll rest.”
Image source, Getty ImagesThe most senior member of the Catholic Church in the UK, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, says that a "serious voice has fallen silent" now the Pope has died.
The cardinal is among those eligible to cast their vote for – and possibly become – the next Pope as part of the mysterious conclave process to be held after the funeral.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Nichols says Francis's voice spoke directly to countless people all over the world.
"He spoke with those on the margins of society. He said if you want to know how successful your economy is, go and speak with an unemployed person."
"This voice, filled with compassion and mercy and righteous indignation, is now silent."
Image source, EPAEven before the Vatican announced that Pope Francis's funeral will take place on Saturday, a number of world leaders confirmed their attendance.
Within hours of Francis's death, Argentinian President Javier Milei said he would attend the service.
US President Donald Trump says he will travel to Vatican City alongside First Lady Melania Trump.
French President Emmanuel Macron has also confirmed that he will be there. And as we mentioned in the post below, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to make an appearance.
Dozens of world leaders and religious figures are likely to attend the funeral, alongside hundreds of worshippers.
Image source, Getty ImagesZelensky visited Pope Francis in the Vatical last October
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend Pope Francis's funeral, AFP says, citing a source from the presidency.
The source reportedly told the agency that Zelensky's office is "preparing the president's visit to Rome to bid farewell to the pontiff".
As we've been reporting, the funeral will take place on 26 April at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST).
Image source, Getty ImagesLet's bring you more from the Vatican's statement now.
Pope Francis's funeral will take place outdoors in front of St Peter's Basilica.
The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, will lead the service.
At the end of the funeral, Re will deliver the final commendation - a concluding prayer where the Pope will be formally entrusted to God - and the body moved to St Mary Major for the burial.