The Philippines began a period of national mourning for Pope Francis on Wednesday, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordering flags on all state buildings across the staunchly Roman Catholic country to fly at half-mast to honour the pontiff.

As tens of thousands of Catholics waited in hourslong lines to pay their respects to Pope Francis, many were debating the direction of the church.

Papal funerals have historically been very elaborate, but the instructions set out by Francis are much simpler. He will be the first Pope in more than a century not to be buried inside the Vatican. Instead,