Vatican releases pictures of Pope Francis in open coffin

The Vatican has released 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 on Monday night and lasted just under an hour.

During the ceremony, the Vatican camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, read the official declaration of death aloud.

Pope Francis’ body was placed in an open wooden casket in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel.

The photographs showed the pontiff lying peacefully, dressed in red liturgical vestments with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary in his hand, as the Vatican secretary of state prayed ove...
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