Tens of thousands of mourners turned out at St Mark's Cathedral in Cairo to see the funeral of the Coptic Pope Shenouda III who died on Saturday aged 88.

The cathedral was packed with mourners, paying their respects to Pope Shenouda. He was the spiritual leader of Egypt's, Coptic Christians, who make up 10% of Egypt's population, the largest Middle East Christian group, and is widely credited with protecting them in the face of rising Islamism.

As the white coffin passed through the crowds, the mourners pushed each other to touch it. His body will later be taken to St Bishoy monastery in the Nile Delta where he will be buried.