By Joshua McElwee and Giulia Segreti ROME (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of mourners filed into St. Peter's Basilica on Friday on the last day to pay final respects to Pope Francis ahead of his funeral on Saturday.

It meant a lot to me to see him, he gave us so much,” said one woman who waited in line to file past the pontiff’s casket.

The Vatican said more than 90,000 people had bid farewell to the pontiff by Thursday evening at the basilica, which will stay open into the night as long as there are mourners.

Although Pope Francis simplified the papal funeral rites in a move of typical modesty, Saturday’s ceremony will still be full of pomp and pageantry, as the world’s Catholics bid him farewell and cardinals in the Vatican ready themselves for the millennia-old process of picking a new pontiff.

Tens of thousands of people have visited St. Peter's Basilica to pay their final respects to Pope Francis as preparations also begin for the conclave. Chris Jansing reports more from the Vatican and is joined by NBC News’ Molly Hunter,

The Oscar-winning film "Conclave" has become a surprise streaming hit amid renewed curiosity about the Vatican's inner workings.