Pope Francis Lies in Repose at Casa Santa Marta in Humble Farewell
In a profoundly moving and historic moment, the Vatican has released the first images of Pope Francis lying in repose inside the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, the modest residence where he lived during his papacy.
The scene is intimate and deeply symbolic. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Irish-American appointed camerlengo—or chamberlain—led the official declaration of death ceremony, offering a blessing over the Pope’s body. Wearing a red mozzetta and cassock, Cardinal Farrell now temporarily oversees Vatican operations until a new pope is elected.
📸 Photo Credit: AFP News Agency/YouTube
Pope Francis rests in an open wooden casket, dressed in red liturgical vestments and wearing the papal mitre. A simple silver ring marked with a cross—not the ornate Fisherman’s Ring traditionally worn by popes—adorns his hand. Though he received the Fisherman’s Ring upon his inauguration, Francis often chose the humbler silver ring, reflecting his enduring commitment to simplicity.
In a notable break from papal tradition, Pope Francis requested a plain wooden coffin instead of the traditional three-tiered cypress, lead, and oak burial. He is also being displayed in an open coffin inside the chapel, rather than on a raised platform with ceremonial cushions, as was customary for past pontiffs.
The chapel at Casa Santa Marta, where his body now lies, is rich in symbolism. Designed in the 1990s to house visiting clergy, its triangular ceiling and floor patterns represent the Holy Trinity. Above the coffin, a Latin inscription reads, “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful”—a fitting tribute to the life and faith of the late Pope.
Members of the Swiss Guard, the elite Vatican security force that has protected popes since 1506, stand watch over the body.
Pope Francis will remain in the chapel until Wednesday morning, when a solemn procession will carry his body to St. Peter’s Basilica at 9 a.m. local time. There, mourners from around the world will have the opportunity to pay their respects during his lying-in-state ahead of his funeral, scheduled for Saturday.
