The Vatican has released the first images of Pope Francis in his open wooden casket, dressed in red vestments with a bishop’s mitre and a rosary placed in his hands.
The photos were taken inside the private chapel of Casa Santa Marta, his Vatican residence, where he passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis died from a cerebral stroke, which led to a coma and irreversible heart failure. His death was officially recorded at 7:35 am (local time) on April 21 through electrocardiographic thanatography.
Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, certified the cause of death in an official medical report.
The report detailed the pontiff’s long-standing health issues, including Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and a history of respiratory failure and bilateral pneumonia.
Just a day before his passing, Pope Francis made his final public appearance, briefly greeting crowds from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday. However, he was too frail to deliver the full traditional message.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis was the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit to hold the position. His passing has led to global mourning, with tributes pouring in from world leaders and religious figures.
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