As the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, the Vatican released images of the spiritual leader lying in an open coffin.
The pontiff lost his life due to a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure at the age of 88 on Monday, April 21.
His body was captured dressed in a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary in his hand in pictures of his open coffin.
First images of Pope Francis laying in a coffin were shared a day after he passed away
Image credits: Presidenza della Repubblica
“The translation of the Holy Father’s mortal remains to the Vatican Basilica, for the veneration of all the faithful, may take place on the morning of Wednesday, April 23, 2025, according to the arrangements that shall be determined and communicated tomorrow, following the first Congregation of the Cardinals,” the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said on Monday.
Cardinals dressed in red galeros met on Tuesday morning to set a funeral date.
The Vatican said his coffin will be transferred to St Peter’s Basilica at 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
Mourning rites and rituals are expected to go on for nine days.
Netizens expressed their grief after images of the wooden coffin were shared
Image credits: Jorge Mateo Romay Salinas / Getty Images
Netizens reacted to images of the pope’s open coffin, with one saying, “not sure we needed to see that.”
“He looks so peaceful, RIP to The People’s Pope,” one commenter said, while another wrote, “RIP Pope Francis, you were a gentle loving pope and will be missed. You’ve done your work, now rest with God.”
Another wrote, “Can you not have put a warning or blurred the photo, I did not want to see this on my newsfeed at 08:26, kids are crying now.”
“He’s at rest, God bless him,” one commented on the images
Image credits: Vatican Pool / Getty Images
In a book published on Tuesday by Cardinal Angelo Scola— titled Nell’attesa di un nuovo inizio. Riflessioni sulla vecchiaia (Waiting for a new beginning. Reflections on old age)—Pope Francis penned down his reflections on passing away and how it’s “not the end of everything” but the “beginning of something.”
“It is a new beginning, as the title wisely highlights, because eternal life, which those who love already experience on earth in the occupations of every day, is starting something that will not end,” his passage was quoted.
“And it is precisely for this reason that it is a ‘new’ beginning, because we will experience something that we have never fully experienced: eternity,” he continued.
The pontiff wrote about passing away in the introduced of a book published on Tuesday
Image credits: Vatican Pool / Getty Images
Francis passed away just weeks after recovering from double pneumonia. He suffered a cerebral stroke unrelated to the respiratory issues, which left him in a coma with “irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.”
Doctors told local media that he passed away “peacefully” on Monday.
Hours before the cerebral stroke, he spent Easter Sunday appearing in front of a cheering crowd from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and waving from his wheelchair.
“Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter,” he said as he gave the tradition blessing to thousands of worshippers.
Francis suffered a cerebral stroke and was in a coma with “irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse” before his passing
Image credits: Vatican Pool / Getty Images
He also emerged from his convalescence and rode through a delightful crowd in the popemobile, pausing several times to bless the babies brought before him in St. Peter’s Square.
The day before his passing, he also briefly bet US Vice President JD Vance, whom he has publicly clashed with before.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the pope was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church and became the head of church on March 13, 2013.
Mourning rites and rituals are expected to go on for nine days
Image credits: Coronel Gonorrea / Unsplash
The next pope to succeed Francis will be chosen by the College of Cardinals, the Catholic church’s most senior figures appointed by the pontiff.
There are more than 250 cardinals, hailing from over 90 countries; however, only around 135 are cardinal electors because those who have crossed the age of 80 are excluded from the voting process.
About 110 of these cardinal electors were reportedly picked out by Francis in the last decade.
The College of Cardinals will gather in a secret meeting called the conclave inside the Sistine Chapel, and the voting will take place in rounds to choose the new pope.