Off The Record
Vatican Shares Final Images Of Pope Francis In Open Coffin, Stirring Strong Reactions
The Vatican revealed pictures of the spiritual leader in an open coffin as the world grieves the loss of Pope Francis.
On Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, the pope passed away from a brain stroke and subsequent heart failure.
Photographs of his open casket showed his body in a scarlet gown, with a rosary in his hand and the papal mitre on his head.
The first images of Pope Francis lying in a coffin were shared a day after he passed away
“The translation of the Holy Father’s mortal remains to the Vatican Basilica, for the veneration of all the faithful, may take place on the morning of Wednesday, April 23, 2025, according to the arrangements that shall be determined and communicated tomorrow, following the first Congregation of the Cardinals,” the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said on Monday
On Tuesday morning, Cardinals in red galeros convened to determine the date of the funeral.
According to the Vatican, his casket will be moved to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday at seven in the morning.
We anticipate nine days of mourning ceremonies and rituals.
Netizens expressed their grief after images of the wooden coffin were shared
One netizen commented, “not sure we needed to see that,” in response to pictures of the pope’s open coffin.
“He looks so peaceful, RIP to The People’s Pope,” one commenter said, while another wrote, “RIP Pope Francis, you were a gentle loving pope and will be missed. You’ve done your work, now rest with God.”
Another wrote, “Can you not have put a warning or blurred the photo, I did not want to see this on my newsfeed at 08:26; kids are crying now.”
“He’s at rest, God bless him,” one netizen commented on the images
Cardinal Angelo Scola’s book, Nell’attesa di un nuovo inizio, was released on Tuesday. Waiting for a new beginning (Riflessioni sulla vecchiaia). Thinking back on old age)—Pope Francis wrote on dying and how it’s “not the end of everything” but rather the “beginning of something.”
“It is a new beginning, as the title wisely highlights, because eternal life, which those who love already experience on earth in the occupations of every day, is starting something that will not end,” his passage was quoted.
“And it is precisely for this reason that it is a ‘new’ beginning, because we will experience something that we have never fully experienced: eternity,” he continued.
The pontiff wrote about passing away in the introduction of a book published on Tuesday
Only a few weeks after he recovered from double pneumonia, Francis died. Unrelated to the respiratory problems, he had a brain stroke that put him in a coma with “irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.”
On Monday, doctors informed the local media that he had died “peacefully.”
He spent Easter Sunday waving from his wheelchair and appearing in front of a cheering crowd from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, only hours before the brain stroke.
“Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter,” he said as he gave the traditional blessing to thousands of worshippers.
Francis suffered a cerebral stroke and was in a coma with “irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse” before his passing
He also came out of his recuperation and rode in the popemobile through a charming crowd, stopping a few times to bless the infants that were given to him in St. Peter’s Square.
He also had a brief encounter with US Vice President JD Vance the day before he passed away; the two have previously battled in public.
The first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the pope was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio and took office on March 13, 2013.
Mourning rites and rituals are expected to go on for nine days
The College of Cardinals will select the next pope to succeed Francis; they are the highest-ranking members of the Catholic church chosen by the pope.
Although there are more than 250 cardinals from more than 90 nations, only about 135 of them are cardinal electors because voters above 80 are not allowed to cast ballots.
According to reports, Francis has chosen about 110 of these cardinal electors in the last ten years.
To select the new pope, the College of Cardinals will convene in the Sistine Chapel for a covert meeting known as the conclave, where voting will be done in rounds.
“I understood that he didn’t want to be exposed,” a social media user said.
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