Pope Francis pictured in open coffin as Vatican funeral preparations begin

Pope ' body has been pictured in an open coffin for the first time as Vatican funeral preparations begin. The 88-year-old, who died on , has been laid out in an open coffin at the for the Confirmation of the Death of the Pontiff ceremony. The placement of his body in the coffin took place last night at the Chapel of Santa Marta, according to the Vatican. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, conducted the official declaration of death in a ceremony lasting under an hour.

The first images released show the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin praying in front of the body of Pope Francis, which was laid out in state inside his private chapel at the Vatican. They showed him in a wooden casket, in red vestments and his bishop’s miter. The Vatican said Francis died of a stroke that put him into a coma and led his heart to fail.

Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalisation of his 12-year papacy.

He made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday — a day before his death — to bless thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, drawing wild cheers and applause. Beforehand, he met US Vice President JD Vance. Francis performed the blessing from the same loggia where he was introduced on March 13, 2013, as the 266th pope.

“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived.

Cardinals will meet at the Vatican on Tuesday to begin scheduling Pope Francis’ funeral and burial, planning the conclave to elect his successor and making other decisions about running the Catholic Church as leaders and the ordinary faithful grieve the pontiff’s death They will also determine when his body can be moved into St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.

In his final will, Francis confirmed he would be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, which is outside the Vatican and home to his favourite icon of the Virgin Mary. After every foreign trip, Francis would go to the basilica to pray before the Byzantine-style painting that features an image of Mary.

Francis stopped by the basilica on his way home from the Gemelli hospital on March 23, after his 38-day hospital stay, to deliver flowers to be placed before the icon. He returned April 12 to pray before the Madonna for the last time.