The first pictures of Pope Francis’ body since his death were released on Tuesday, and his funeral has been scheduled for Saturday morning.
Images displayed Francis positioned in a wooden casket adorned in red vestments and his bishop’s miter. The Vatican Secretary of State was shown praying over him in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel, where Francis resided.
On Tuesday, cardinals convened for the first time in the Vatican’s synod hall to outline the forthcoming procedures before the conclave assembles to elect the succeeding pope. The funeral has been scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square.
The commemoration will be overseen by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. From Wednesday onwards, regular worshippers can pay their final respects as Francis’s casket is brought into St. Peter’s Basilica.
The body of Pope Francis (hands detail) lies in state at the chapel of Casa Santa Marta during the Rite of Certification of Death presided by Cardinal Kevin Farrell on April 21, 2025, in Vatican City, Vatican. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
In his final will, Francis confirmed he would be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, which is located outside the Vatican and home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary.
Francis stopped by the basilica on his way home from the Gemelli hospital on March 23, after the longest hospitalization of his papacy, to deliver flowers to be placed before the icon. He returned on April 12 to pray before the Madonna for the last time.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
