The Vatican has released the first official images of Pope Francis following his death at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. The photographs show the late pontiff dressed in red vestments and lying in a simple wooden coffin in the private chapel of the Casa Santa Marta, his residence during his papacy. The images also show Swiss Guards standing vigil, the Easter candle lit nearby, and Cardinal Kevin Farrell offering a blessing.
The photos were taken during the “rite of the ascertainment of death and deposition in the coffin,” the first formal stage of the papal funeral rites. The rite was held at 8:00 p.m. local time, just over 12 hours after Francis’ death, and lasted under an hour. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, presided over the ceremony, which was conducted according to the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis.
Pope Francis’ body was first examined by Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Vatican’s health services, who certified that the pope died from a stroke, coma, and irreversible cardiovascular collapse. Dr. Arcangeli also arranged for the preparation of the body for public exposition “with the greatest decorum and respect.”
Francis’ remains were dressed in his white cassock before being clothed in red liturgical vestments with the miter and pallium and placed in a zinc-lined wooden coffin. His body remained in the chapel overnight for private visitation and prayer.
The rite was attended by members of the Pope’s family, the Dean of the College of Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, and senior Vatican health officials, along with Cardinal Farrell.
In accordance with tradition, Cardinal Farrell—together with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra—sealed the papal apartments in both the Apostolic Palace and the Casa Santa Marta. Although Pope Francis famously chose not to live in the Apostolic Palace, protocol required the sealing of both residences.
The public funeral rites will begin on Wednesday, April 23, when Pope Francis’ coffin will be moved in a solemn procession to St. Peter’s Basilica, where it will lie in state for the faithful to pray and pay their respects.
The funeral Mass, called the Missa poenitentialis, will be held on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. This will mark the start of the Novendiales, nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of the pope’s soul.
On the evening of April 21, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, led a public rosary for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square.
The College of Cardinals met on Tuesday, April 22, for the first General Congregation, where they read Pope Francis’ final testament and selected three assisting cardinals—Cardinals Pietro Parolin, Fabio Baggio, and Stanisław Ryłko—to support the Camerlengo in organizing affairs during the sede vacante, the period when the See of Peter is vacant.
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