Pope Francis lies in open coffin in Vatican chapel

the Visual Journalism team

BBC News

Getty Images Cardinals take part in the rite of certification of death of Pope Francis in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta - 21 April 2025

The Vatican has released several photographs of Pope Francis lying in an open coffin in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta, his former residence.

We’ve taken a look at who was in the chapel and some of the symbolism on show in the images.

Getty Images The body of Pope Francis lies in state at the chapel of Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City - April 21 2025

Getty Images Cardinal Kevin Farrell - in red shoulder cape and cassock - presides over the rite of certification of death of Pope Francis in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City - April 21 2025

The most notable figure in the room is Irish-American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is the Pope’s “camerlengo” or chamberlain and runs the Vatican until a new Pope is chosen. The cardinal – in red mozzetta and cassock – is shown blessing the body of the late Pope during the rite of the declaration of death.

Pope Francis is dressed in red robes, holding a rosary and wearing the papal mitre – the large white ceremonial headdress. He is also wearing a simple silver ring.

Getty Images Pope Francis is shown wearing the simple silver ring while lying in an open coffin in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City - April 21 2025

During his inauguration, Pope Francis was given the Fisherman’s Ring – a symbol of his office – which Cardinal Farrell has the responsibility to destroy so it cannot be used by anyone else. Pope Francis sometimes used this ring during ceremonies but was more often seen using the simple silver ring adorned with a cross.

Getty Images Pope Francis's Fisherman's Ring is seen during a ceremony in 2020 (left) and he is pictured wearing a simple silver ring as he greets people in St Peter's Square in 2015 (right)

One of the significant changes in tradition is the coffin that Pope Francis will be buried in. The coffins used for previous papal burials consisted of three nesting coffins made of cypress, lead and oak – but Pope Francis asked to be buried in a simple wooden casket.

He will remain in the open coffin for the lying in state, whereas other popes have been laid out resting on cushions on a platform.

Pope Francis (above) chose a wooden coffin while Pope Benedict XVI (below) was on cushions

Getty Images Left hand image- Pope Francis lies in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta in a lined wooden coffin. Right hand image - Pope Benedict XVI lying in the Chapel of the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, located in the Vatican Gardens, before his lying in state in 2023 — Pope Francis (above) chose a wooden coffin while Pope Benedict XVI (below) was on cushions

The chapel itself is nestled within the Casa Santa Marta, a residential building containing more than 100 simple rooms that was built in 1996.

Map showing the Vatican's main buildings - St Peter's Basilica, St Peter's Square, the Sisteine Chapel and Casa Santa Marta

Triangular shapes are present throughout the chapel, in the construction of the ceiling and on the floor tiles, representing the Holy Trinity.

On the ceiling behind the coffin is an inscription in Latin, which translates as “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful”.

Latin inscription on ceiling of Casa Santa Marta which reads Veni sancte spiritus reple tuorum corda fidelum

The Pope’s body is guarded by members of the Vatican’s Swiss Guard. They have protected the Pope since 1506, when Julius II first hired Swiss mercenaries for his personal protection.

Getty Images Members of the Swiss Guard stand over Pope Francis's body in the chapel - 21 April 2025

Pope Francis will stay in the chapel until Wednesday morning, when his body will be transferred to St Peter’s Basilica in a procession starting at 09:00 local time. From then, he will lie in an open casket in the basilica, where mourners can pay their respects ahead of his funeral on Saturday.