In a series of posts shared to Instagram, one Brazilian rector shared photos and videos from the Vatican, including a photo of himself next to the corpse of the pontiff.
The cleric, who covers holy topics for an audience of 115,000 online, shared his post from the Basilica of St Peter with the simple message, ‘Rest in Peace Pope Francis’.
While followers in his network echoed his condolences in the comments, such photos have proven controversial – and even invoked a warning from the church itself.
‘Visitors are invited not to take photos,’ a spokesperson for the Vatican told The Times.
A source from the church added that mourners have been queuing for hours to see the pope and pay their respects – ‘but taking pictures is not in the best of taste’.
Mourners, too, have joined in criticism of social media users for their conduct inside the basilica – as officials prepare for the funeral in St Peter’s Square on Saturday.
The Pope, who died on Monday aged 88, had been in the role since 2013, and was dubbed the first real ‘digital’ pontiff, heading the church as it found its place in the internet age.
A priest joined others in posting a selfie with the late pontiff – adding ‘rest in peace’
Mourners pose for selfies near the open casket of Pope Francis, in St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican
Another faithful posted a similar image online standing in front of the late Pope’s dead body
Tens of thousands of pilgrims have made the journey to St Peter’s Basilica since it was opened to the public for believers wanting to pay their respects to the late pope.
The pope’s death on Monday came as something of a shock after he was tentatively discharged from hospital and resumed papal activities – including joining crowds in the ‘Popemobile’ on Easter Sunday, and meeting U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
The Vatican confirmed on Monday that the Pope had died from a stroke and irreversible heart failure in his beloved Casa Santa Marta residence, prompting an influx of faithful to the Vatican as the body was moved to the basilica.
How mourners have expressed their grief has proven a point of controversy, however.
Officials have released photos of Francis in his velvet-lined coffin and did not ban public pictures, but guards reportedly stopped some mourners using phone cameras.
A Vatican source said: ‘It would be good if people could try and remember where they are and have a little respect but there’s little else that can be done.’
One faithful said the atmosphere was ruined by people ‘ignoring warnings’ and taking photos instead of paying proper respects.
She explained that she and her husband kept their phones in their pockets throughout the experience, adding that it was ‘sad to see such disrespectful behaviour’.
The viewing of the body of Pope Francis in Saint Peters Basilica, the Vatican, Rome
Crowds gathered around the coffin while holding their phones in the air
Nuns take photos from inside St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City
Janine Venables, 53, from Pontypridd, south Wales told MailOnline: ‘What did surprise me is the fact that earlier we were told no photos in the Sistine Chapel and here people were getting their phone out and doing selfies with the coffin.
‘I did think that was a bit in poor taste and I’m surprised no one stopped them.’
A BBC reporter said they saw nuns in St Peter’s Square ‘glaring’ at a man wearing headphones and ‘dancing around the square’, before lamenting the lack of ‘respect’.
Inside the basilica, some nuns were also photographed gathering around the pontiff’s open casket with their phones in hand.
When crowds arrived before the body of Francis in the basilica, they were requested to put away their selfie sticks, but the phone screens remained front and centre.
While it had been expected that St, Peter’s would close at midnight on Wednesday and Thursday, it remained open throughout the night to allow more people to pay their respects.
The Vatican then kept St Peter’s open past the scheduled hours to accommodate the queues, only closing the doors between 2:30am (0030 GMT) and 5:40am Friday.
On Friday, the Vatican was making its final preparations for the Pope’s funeral as the last of the huge crowds filed through to view the coffin.
The body of Pope Francis is placed into St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23
Many of the 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs attending Saturday’s ceremony in St Peter’s Square, including US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, are expected to arrive later today in Rome.
At least 130 foreign delegations are expected at his funeral, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Britain’s Prince William, and a no-fly zone will be in force.
Italian and Vatican authorities have placed the area around St Peter’s under tight security with drones blocked, snipers on roofs and fighter jets on standby.
Further check-points will be activated on Friday night, police said.
The Argentine pontiff, who had long suffered failing health, defied doctors’ orders by appearing at Easter, the most important moment in the Catholic calendar.
It would be his last public appearance.
Condolences have flooded in from around the world for the Jesuit, an energetic reformer who championed those on the fringes of society in his 12 years as head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
He used his last speech to rail against those who stir up “contempt… towards the vulnerable, the marginalised, and migrants”.
