The Vatican just rolled out pictures of Pope Francis being laid out in his open coffin for the Confirmation of the Death of the Pontiff Ceremony.
The ceremony took place last night and lasted for just under an hour. This is where Cardinal Kevin Farrell read the official declaration of death out loud.
The late Pope’s body was also put inside an open wooden casket in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta Hotel. Two Swiss Guards stood at attention as Farrell blessed Francis with holy water.
Pictures were shared by the Vatican today that show the pontiff lying down in a peaceful position. He was dressed up in a red liturgical vestments with the papal mitre across his head and a rosary in his hand. This was while the Vatican secretary of state prayed over him.
Seals were added across the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace and on the apartment in the Chapel of Santa Marta, where the late Pope used to reside.
As per tradition, the camerlengo broke the pontiff’s Fisherman’s ring with a special hammer and destroyed the dies used to make the papal seal. That is placed across apostolic letters before sealing the apartment. Such items get buried alongside the pope.