People will be able to pay their respects to Francis through Friday. Given the large turnout of faithful wishing to pay homage to Pope Francis, the Vatican may extend the opening hours of St. Peter’s Basilica beyond the established time of midnight, the Vatican Press office said.

With 80% of the College of Cardinals having been appointed by Pope Francis, will the next pope be similar to him? NBC News' Steve Kornacki explains why this may not necessarily be the case.

Pope Francis, 88, died April 21, the Vatican announced. No cause of death was included in the statement. In February, after a bout with bronchitis, he had been hospitalized in Rome with what Vatican officials called a “complex clinical picture” that included a diagnosis of double pneumonia.

Global tributes are being paid after Pope Francis died of a stroke and heart failure on Easter Monday at Casa Santa Marta, a guesthouse at the Vatican.