The Vatican has released images of Pope Francis being laid out in an open coffin ahead of the special historic ceremony officially declaring his death.
Francis died Monday after suffering a stroke that led to irreversible heart failure following a weeks-long hospitalization with pneumonia.
He was 88.
The Pope’s body was placed in a simple, wooden, zinc-lined coffin late Monday, with Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo — the “chamberlain” who essentially acts as head of the Vatican between the end of a papacy and the start of the next — reading the official Confirmation of the Death of the Pontiff aloud in an intimate ceremony.
A red ribbon and wax seal was also placed on the door of the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace, as well as the Chapel of Santa Marta, where he had lived.
In images shared by the Vatican today, Francis can be seen lying in his vestments with a rosary in his hands.
First images of Pope Francis in coffin released ahead of public viewinghttps://t.co/kDPJiDnXNq
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The official lying-in-state period is set to begin Wednesday, in which the public is welcome to enter St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their final respects.
“The transfer of the body of the Holy Father to the Vatican Basilica for the homage of all the faithful could take place on Wednesday morning,” said Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesman.