Less than 24 hours after his death, the Vatican released on Tuesday, April 22, the first images of the body of Pope Francis inside his coffin, in the private chapel of Casa Santa Marta, his usual residence throughout his pontificate.
The pontiff, who died on Monday, April 21, at the age of 88 due to a stroke with cardiocirculatory failure, was placed in a simple wooden coffin, as he himself had requested in his will.
Details of the wake in the chapel of his residence
Imagens do rito de constatação da morte e a deposição do corpo do #PapaFrancisco no caixão na capela da Casa Santa Marta na noite de 21 de abril pic.twitter.com/ninyjSvgPZ
– Vatican News (@vaticannews_pt). April 22, 2025
The images released correspond to the rite of confirmation of death, which was held on Monday, April 21 at 20:00 hours (18:00 GMT), and show a solemn atmosphere full of recollection.
The official photographs and video show Pope Francis lying in his coffin, dressed in a purple chasuble, the liturgical color of mourning, and a white miter.
In his hands rests a rosary, a symbol of his deep Marian devotion.
The coffin is lined in red velvet, without ostentatious ornaments, in coherence with his austere and pastoral style.
The body was exposed in the chapel on the second floor of Casa Santa Marta, as he himself had arranged during his lifetime, instead of being transferred directly to St. Peter’s Basilica as had happened with previous popes.
The ceremony was attended by numerous cardinals already present in Rome, as well as members of his close team, who took turns to pray next to the body of the Argentine pontiff, the first Latin American pope in history.
Cardinals’ meeting and funeral arrangements
On Tuesday morning (local time), the first General Congregation of the College of Cardinals was held in the Vatican Synod Hall.
In it, the purpurates began to define the key details of the funeral protocol, such as the exact date of the funeral and the logistics of the transfer of the body to St. Peter’s Basilica.
I cordially invite cardinals over 80 years of age to participate in these preparatory General Congregations, although they are free to attend or not
Giovanni Battista Re
In a letter sent to the cardinals, the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, reiterated the invitation to participate also to cardinals over 80 years of age, although they will not have the right to vote in the future conclave.
Next steps
Buzzy
According to the Vatican Press Office, Francis’ body will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, April 23, so that the faithful can pay homage to him in the funeral chapel.
The date of the funeral will be officially set in the coming hours, although, according to the current regulations (Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis), it must be held between Friday, April 25 and Sunday, April 27.
For more news, visit QueOnnda.com.
