The Vatican opened St. Peter’s Basilica to the general public Wednesday to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, with thousands of people filling the central aisle and Swiss Guards standing at attention. Francis’ body will lie in state in the basilica until Saturday’s funeral and burial. Francis died on Monday at age 88.

Catholic cardinals on Wednesday performed the ritual ceremony to transfer Pope Francis’ body from his home in the Vatican hotel to St. Peter’s Basilica for three days of public viewing.