The day after the funeral, thousands of queues visited Pope Francis' grave | Pope Francis

On the day after the head of state, royal family and thousands of mourners attended his funeral in Rome, thousands lined up to visit Pope Francis’ grave in Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.

Many people crossed their phones to take pictures, they crossed their graves, simply labeling the name of Franciska.

“To me, Pope Francis was an inspiration, a guide,” said Rome resident Elias Caravalhal. He was “thanks for everything he did”.

“It's incredible that he is no longer with us. Sadly, we won't be like this often,” Susmidah Murphy, who visited the city from his home in India.

Many who mourn the late pope were anxious about who succeeded him.

Romina Cacciatore, 48, an Argentine translator who lives in Italy, said Pope Francis turned the Roman Catholic Church into something “a more normal, more human. I’m worried about what’s going to happen.”

“I want us to talk to Francis, whoever they are, when we talk to Francis,” said Maria Simoni, 53, of Rome.

Tatiana Alva, 49, from Peru, said Francis was “very kind and modest. He used language that young people could understand. I don’t think the next pope would be the same, but I hope he has an open mind and keeps reality in the challenges in the world right now.”

A special mass was held on Sunday morning at St Peter's Square, led by Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who was the favorite of the dealer's successor to Francis. According to the Vatican, about 200,000 people attended the meeting.

More than 220 cardinals will meet in the Vatican on Monday morning to decide the date of the meeting to elect the next pope.

Only Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible in total to attend the meeting, which will begin after the completion of the official mourning for Francis for nine days.

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, from Luxembourg, said he expected the meeting to begin within a day or two of the end of the mourning period on May 4. It must start on May 10th.

German Cardinal Reinhard Marx said on Saturday that the meeting will last “a few days.”

The Cardinal (about 80% appointed by Francis) will make four votes a day until a candidate gets a two-thirds majority. The news of choosing a successor will be conveyed by white smoke from Sistine Church.

The Cardinal is expected to pay tribute to the grave of Francis in Santa Maria Maggiore on Sunday.