Pope Francis: The first pictures of the open coffin

The Vatican published the first pictures of his body around 24 hours after the death of Pope Francis. Francis died surprisingly in the early morning on Easter Monday at the age of 88 of a stroke. His remains have now been laid out in a private chapel in the Vatican before they are probably transferred to St. Peter’s Cathedral on Wednesday, where believers can probably say goodbye for three days. Afterwards Francis is buried in his favorite basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

Like most of his predecessors, Pope Francis was not laid out freely and openly on a so -called catafal, but – so it was his wish – in a coffin. A catafalc, partly also called Schaubett in German, is a magnificent bahre that was specially made for the attitude of deceased. The body is currently in the chapel of its own residence, the guest house in Santa Marta. The papal rooms in Santa Marta and in the Apostolic Palace have already been sealed. Only the newly elected Pope can break these seals.

At the funeral, not only all cardinals in the world are expected, which then have to agree on a new Pope in the conclave, but also countless heads of state and heads of government in the world. US President Donald Trump (78) has already announced himself as well as Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj (47).