An elderly nun sobbed just a few feet from the coffin of Pope Francis, an area normally reserved for cardinals, bishops and priests.

Sister Genevieve Jeanningros, 81, was permitted to break protocol because of the close friendship she shared with the late pontiff for over two decades.

Footage circulated on social media showed Sister Genevieve, dressed in a blue headscarf and navy habit, stepping towards the red rope surrounding the coffin, with the assistance of an official.

Apparently overcome by emotion upon seeing her friend?s body, she was seen bursting into tears, her hands drawn quickly to her face as she took in the scene.

The French-Argentine nun, whom Pope Francis affectionately nicknamed ?L?enfant terrible?, stood in contemplation with a plain green backpack hanging upon her shoulders.

Just nine months ago, Pope Francis had visited Sister Genevieve in Ostia, Rome, to acknowledge her longstanding work in helping marginalised communities and those who are socially excluded.

The pair first met when the Pope was Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, in the early 2000s.

As part of her work with the order of the Little Sisters of Jesus, Sister Genevieve served some of the most disadvantaged people in the Ostia area.

Yet while the nun?s raw emotional response reminded many of the personal loss Pope Francis?s closest friends and family will be experiencing, other mourners were criticised for posing by the dead pontiff.

A smiling Sister Genevieve is greeted by the Pope at an audience he granted her in 2020 along with members of the circus community she worked among in Ostia

A smiling Sister Genevieve is greeted by the Pope at an audience he granted her in 2020 along with members of the circus community she worked among in Ostia - Independent Photo Agency/Alamy Live News

The Vatican has released photographs of the 88-year-old in his simple velvet-lined coffin.

And on Wednesday, when worshippers were first welcomed to view the body, there was no official rule on mourners taking photographs.

However, some members of the public ? and even some nuns ? were seen taking selfies in front of the coffin, and a public outcry apparently sparked a change in position.

By Thursday afternoon, guards inside the basilica were telling visitors that no photographs of the body lying in state were permitted.

Meanwhile, other worshippers were heading in droves on Thursday to Rome?s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, about 2.5 miles from the Vatican, where Pope Francis will be buried following his funeral on Saturday.

It is a final resting place that marks a break from tradition, as the vast majority of popes have their final resting place inside the Vatican.

But the church was dear to Francis, and it was where he prayed before setting off on and returning from overseas trips.

It is located on the Esquiline, one of the seven hills of Rome ? an area previously used for the burial of slaves, the poor and those condemned to death.

A grand final resting place

Today, the Basilica is surrounded by busy roads, blaring traffic and the hustle and bustle of tourist shops, packed pubs and Rome?s Chinatown.

But inside, it still has notable grandeur.

Built in the 4th century, it is one of the oldest basilicas in the city and the first church to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary, to whom Pope Francis was particularly devoted.

Among its beautiful interiors and artworks is its 16th-century coffered ceiling, which is said to be gilded with gold brought by Christopher Columbus and presented to Pope Alexander VI.

The basilica also houses the most important icon of the Virgin Mary, the Salus Populi Romani, a painting traditionally attributed to Saint Luke the Evangelist, the patron saint of painters.

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the Pope will be buried, was drawing crowds of visitors on Thursday - Jakub Porzycki/Anadolu via Getty Images

Pope Francis traditionally prayed to the icon for protection on his voyages, according to the basilica?s website.

On Thursday, eyes that would normally be fixed on the glories of the architecture and artefacts were trained instead on plywood planks blocking a small part of the left of the basilica from view.

The wooden planks guarded from view the preparations for the external part of Pope Francis?s tomb.

In his final testament, he asked to be buried ?in the earth, simple, without particular decoration? and with the inscription only of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.

However, curious worshippers were keen to find out what would mark the late pontiff?s final resting place.

A tomb of Ligurian marble

Wearing a white mantilla, 17-year-old Phoebe Alpar was one of several visitors seen peeking into a gap in the temporary wooden structure.

The teenager, from Colorado Springs, who was with her friend Danni Suerdieck on pilgrimage, said: ?I think it?s pretty cool, I really am excited to see the final product.?

Another visitor, Angela Soldo, took pictures of the structure with her phone. Ms Soldo had queued for two hours earlier that day to see the Pope lying in state.

By 7pm on Thursday, 90,000 people had paid their respects to Pope Francis during the day.

And in the afternoon, the Vatican released images of the much anticipated tomb.

A statement said it was made of marble from Liguria, in north west Italy. Following his wishes, the inscription says simply ?Franciscus?, and a reproduction of the cross the late pontiff wore on his chest is the only image. (The Telegraph UK)

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