The visitors were welcome between 11 am on Wednesday until the doors closed at 19 pm on Friday.
The number of visitors is higher than in 2023, when 195,000 people said goodbye to Pope Benedict XVI. He was the first pope in 600 years to retire from his office.
During the night to Friday, St. Peter's Basilica remained open longer than scheduled for the second night in a row, so that everyone could get in. The doors closed at 2:30 am and reopened at 5:40 am on Friday morning.
The night is the most intimate moment, the Lord always manifests himself at night, says 60-year-old Nicoletta Tomassetti, who visited St. Peter's Basilica early on Friday morning.
It was very emotional. In prayer, I asked the pope for a few things, and I know he will give them to me, she says.
On Friday evening, several cardinals will participate to mark the end of the public viewing of the deceased pope.
The security deployment is large ahead of Saturday's funeral, including snipers placed on roofs and fighter jets on standby.
Many of the around 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs who will attend the funeral are expected to arrive in Rome on Friday. Among them are Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, King Carl Gustav, and Queen Silvia.
In total, at least 130 foreign delegations are expected to attend the funeral. After the ceremony, the coffin will be driven at walking pace to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, where Pope Francis will be buried.
The grave can be visited from Sunday morning onwards.
