Vatican releases first images of Pope Francis lying in state at Casa Santa Marta

The Vatican on Tuesday released the first official photographs of Pope Francis lying in an open coffin inside the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta—his residence at the Vatican, where he passed away on Monday. In the images, the late pontiff is dressed in a red liturgical robe, with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary clasped in his hands.

According to a statement from the Vatican, the funeral Mass for Pope Francis will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. local time at St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis died of a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure. The 88-year-old had recently spent over five weeks hospitalized with pneumonia. He appeared publicly for the last time on Easter Sunday, when he delivered a final blessing from his residence.

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Simplicity by design: Why the Pope’s coffin is not elevated

Unlike previous papal funerals, Pope Francis’ coffin is not placed on a raised bier or ornate catafalque. Traditionally, popes have been buried in a set of three coffins—cypress, lead, and elm—nested within one another and laid beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.

However, Francis had previously rejected these long-standing customs. In April 2024, he formally approved a simplified set of funeral protocols. His body will lie in a plain wooden coffin that will remain on the floor of the basilica, rather than being displayed on a ceremonial platform.

Final wishes include burial outside the Vatican

Pope Francis had also made it known that he did not wish to be buried within the Vatican. In a 2023 interview, he shared his desire to be laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, located in Rome’s Esquilino neighborhood. It is a site closely tied to his papacy and one he visited frequently during his life.

On March 23, shortly after his discharge from the Gemelli Hospital, Francis visited Santa Maria Maggiore on his way home to offer prayers before the Madonna. He returned to the basilica on April 12—what would be his final visit—to pray once more in solitude.

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