Angry mourners at Pope Francis’s lying in state have blasted people taking selfies beside his open casket, calling the behaviour “distasteful” and disrespectful.

Church guards intervened to stop some visitors using camera phones, though public photos were not officially banned.

Catherine Gilsenan, from Wimbledon, said the atmosphere was ruined by people “ignoring warnings” and taking photos instead of paying proper respects.

Her husband Martin said they travelled 100 miles to honour a Pope they admired for modernising the Church.

But others, like Argentine visitor Matheus Silva, defended snapping pictures, saying he was proud to honour “the first Pope who spoke up for gay people like me”.