Selfies next to Pope Francis' coffin spark outrage, fury among the faithful

The desire to put our lives on display and get those coveted “likes” on social media is driving some to disgusting extremes. This was evident at Pope Francis' wake, where many took selfies next to the pontiff's coffin.

Around 20,000 worshippers paid their respects to the late pontiff—but some sparked fury by posting disgusting selfies next to the Pope’s coffin.

One Instagram photo showed a woman in a headscarf smiling at the camera, showing the Pope clutching a rosary about a couple of meters behind her.

Many worshippers found this behavior disgusting.

Katherine Gilsenan, from Wimbledon, UK told The Sun that the atmosphere at the wake was spoiled by people “ignoring warnings” and taking photos instead of paying their respects.

Official photographs from the first day of the wake show crowds of people surrounding the coffin, and holding their smartphones above their heads. Some even held out selfie sticks, trying to get the best shot.

As crowds gathered in front of Francis' body at the basilica, they were asked to put away their selfie sticks—but their phone screens remained front and center.