CNN’s Clarissa Ward speaks with a Syrian refugee family who fled their country’s brutal civil war to settle in Italy with the help of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis, like all Catholic priests, vowed to celibacy and thus was not married or had children. Here's what we know about his family.

People will be able to pay their respects to Francis through Friday. Given the large turnout of faithful wishing to pay homage to Pope Francis, the Vatican may extend the opening hours of St. Peter’s Basilica beyond the established time of midnight, the Vatican Press office said.

People waited for hours for the chance to enter St. Peter’s Basilica and pay their respects to Pope Francis. NBC News’ Tom Llamas reports his casket was moved there earlier in the day, in a solemn procession led by some of the cardinals who will choose his successor.