MATTHEW YOUNG: 'I queued for first look at Pope Francis' tomb - one simple sign stood out to me'

Worshippers today began visiting the tomb of after the city came to a standstill for his historic on Saturday.

The faithful began filing past the simple white tomb in the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in central Rome. Queues formed early outside the church and weaved inside the ornate building, along its left-hand-side and towards the back corner to arrive at the tomb between the Sforza Chapel and the Pauline Chapel, where he regularly visited before and after trips abroad. A single white rose is placed on the tomb which says "Franciscus" - the Pope's name in Latin.

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People of all ages walked past, many crossing themselves or taking pictures with their phones. An artificial light cast a warm glow over the tomb and a reproduction of the late pontiff's pectoral cross on the wall above it. "Pope Francis for me was an inspiration, a guide," said visitor Elias Caravalhal.

Mr Caravalhal lives in Rome but was unable to pay his respects to Francis when he was lying in state in St Peter's Basilica after his death on Easter Monday at the age of 88.

He said he visited the tomb to bid farewell to him, and "to thank him for what he has done". A huge sign attached to a building opposite the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica reads simply: “Grazie, Francesco,” with a large image of the waving pontiff below. Across the roads enormous queues weaved from behind the basilica leading to the front entry.

Coming out the doors were nuns including Sister Diana, who travelled from Cali in overnight on Friday to arrive at the Vatican in time for yesterday’s funeral. She said seeing the tomb was “quick” because of the number of people but “incredibly special”. “He was a very special Pope,” she said.

“A real human with a heart.” Sister Maria Paz, Sister Ameline and Dangtayan Vie are from the Philippines. “Yesterday was a day we will never forget,” said Sister Maria. “And today we were very happy to queue and see where he lies. We will never forget Francesco.” Outside the church is a happy, family atmosphere as children sit down and eat picnics and worshippers mingle and talk.

A group of nuns dressed in blue in front of the basilica chatted while a Monk in full brown robes also walked the plaza. 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. Meanwhile, a special Mass was held in St Peter's Square led by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state.

Cardinal Parolin is considered a possible contender to be the next pope due to his prominence in the Catholic hierarchy.

No date has yet been set for the conclave, the secretive process which sees cardinals elect a new pope, but it must start by May 10 at the latest, and May 5 at the earliest.

Cardinals who travelled to Rome for Francis's funeral will be meeting regularly this week ahead of the conclave as they start to chart a way forward for the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church.

Once the conclave begins, the cardinals will not emerge from the Vatican until a new pope has been elected. A cardinal must receive at least two-thirds of the vote to be announced as the new pope.

Pope Francis chose his place of burial in the Santa Maria Maggiore, near an icon of the Madonna that he revered, because it reflects his "humble, simple and essential" life, the archbishop who administers the basilica said on Friday.

"It's unbelievable that he's no more with us," said Susmidah Murphy, who visited the tomb during a visit to Rome from her home in India. She added: "It's sad that we don't get popes like this very often."