Vatican shares first images of Pope Francis in casket, funeral Saturday

The Vatican on Tuesday morning released the first images of Pope Francis lying in his casket, surrounded by two members of the Swiss Guard inside the chapel of the Saint Martha guesthouse, where he had lived.

In the photo, the late Pope, who passed away Monday at the age of 88 following a stroke, is shown dressed in red papal robes, wearing a white bishop’s mitre, and holding a rosary in his hands.

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis’s funeral will take place on Saturday at 8:00 AM GMT. Earlier in the day, several cardinals convened in Rome to discuss the funeral arrangements.

Traditionally, a pope is buried between four to six days after death. While most pontiffs are interred at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis is expected to be buried outside the Vatican at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a place he held especially dear.

Heads of state and government leaders from around the world are expected to attend the funeral.

Pope Francis’s body currently remains in the chapel of Santa Marta, his longtime residence within the Vatican. The Vatican said his body will be moved to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, where the public will be able to pay their final respects.

The Pope passed away at 7:30 AM on Easter Monday, just hours after a brief meeting with US Vice President J.D. Vance at his modest residence in Saint Martha’s House.

According to the Vatican’s official death certificate issued Monday, Francis died following a stroke that caused a coma, followed by cardiac circulatory failure. The document, signed by Professor Andrea Arcangeli, head of the Vatican’s Directorate of Health and Hygiene, confirmed the death via electrocardiogram recording.