First photos of Pope Francis’ body lying in casket released since his death

The world mourns the loss of Pope Francis, whose body was revealed in a wooden casket wearing red vestments and his bishop’s miter. The Vatican Secretary of State is seen praying over him in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he resided. The first pictures of his body since his passing were released on Tuesday, and his funeral has been scheduled for Saturday morning.

Cardinals gathered in the Vatican’s synod hall to establish the next steps before a conclave begins to select the next pope. The funeral is set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Ordinary faithful may begin paying their final respects starting Wednesday, when his casket is brought into St. Peter’s Basilica.

U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that he and First Lady Melania Trump will attend the funeral. Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected to pay his respects at the funeral of the pontiff, who was born in Argentina.

Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke that led to a coma and ultimately heart failure. His death marked the end of his 12-year papacy as the 266th pope and spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The pope, who had a history of chronic lung disease, spent 38 days in Rome’s Gemelli hospital earlier this year due to a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia.

Despite his health struggles, Pope Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday, delivering an Easter blessing and meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. His Easter appearance was made in the same location where he was introduced to the world as the first pope of the Americas back in 2013.

In his final will, Pope Francis confirmed his wish to be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, located outside the Vatican and home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary. He visited the basilica on multiple occasions, including his return on April 12 to pray before the Madonna for the last time.

The world mourns the loss of a beloved leader, known for his humility, compassion, and dedication to serving others. As preparations for his funeral are underway, people from all corners of the globe come together to honor and celebrate the life of Pope Francis.