Rules mourners visiting Pope Francis will have to follow as Vatican issues ban due to 'outrageous' behaviour

Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, mourners have begun flocking to Rome to pay their respects.

His body has since been laid in an open casket at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City, and his funeral is set to take place tomorrow (26 April).

But as a ban had to be issued following ‘outrageous’ behaviour, those visiting Pope Francis must follow a list of rules and regulations.

The 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church cause of death was confirmed as a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced his passing on Monday (21 April) as he said Pope Francis has ‘returned to the house of the Father'.

“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church,” he added.

And with the world’s millions of Catholics in mourning, new rules have been put in place as they visit his body.

Mourners have gone to the Vatican in Rome to visit Pope Francis (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

It was reported earlier this week that people were taking ‘selfies with the coffin’ as one visitor was ‘surprised no one stopped them’.

Yep, people have apparently been taking photos with Pope Francis’ body.

As a result, according to The Mirror, visitors who get within 30 feet of the casket will now be instructed by guards to put their phones away under threat of confiscation if they do not.

This ban on photos joins the existing list of rules and regulations visitors to the Vatican must follow.

That includes following the dress code as people have to be ‘dressed appropriately’ to gain entry. “Visitors are not permitted to wear sleeveless, low-cut garments, shorts that end above the knee, miniskirts, and hats,” the site explains.

And anyone with the likes of jewels or tattoos that may ‘offend Catholic morality, the Catholic religion, and common decency’ will also be denied entry to the Vatican.

Rules must be followed by those visiting the Vatican (TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)

Visitors also cannot take bags bigger than 40x35x15cm and are forbidden from taking medium and large umbrellas, sticks (not including walking sticks), video cameras, banners, and signs of any type inside.

Knives, scissors, metal tools, firearms or other dangerous materials are forbidden and the use of any type of ‘laser pointer and amplified microphones’ is not permitted in the Museums.

Visitors also cannot eat or drink inside the exhibition halls and alcoholic beverages aren’t allowed inside.

There are many areas where photography is banned with all flash photography forbidden and phones must be kept on silent mode as the site advises: “The use of mobile phones is strongly discouraged inside the exhibition spaces.”

Smoking and vaping is also banned and animals are not allowed access, except for guide dogs.

In the Sistine Chapel in particular, visitors are requested to be in ‘absolute silence’ with photography and use of phones totally forbidden.