The rite ends the public funeral that began on Wednesday (23.abr); Pontiff died on Monday (21.abr) at 88
Pope Francis’ coffin was sealed during a solemn ceremony at 8 pm (local time at 15h in Brasilia) of this Friday (25.br.2025). The closure of the coffin was reserved for some relatives of Francisco and took place at the altar of confession, in the Basilica of St. Peter, in the Vatican.
The rite ends the public funeral that began on Wednesday (23.abr). According to the Vatican, about 250,000 believers passed the Basilica to pay their last honors to the Pope, who died on Monday (21.abr), at 88, by heart failure and stroke.
During the ceremony, the Pope was veiled before the altar of confession in a wooden coffin, arranged directly on the floor, by choice of the pontiff itself. Francisco wore a red hell and a white miter with a rosary in his hands – a previously requested decision to symbolize simplicity and humility.
See images of the coffin closure:
See photos of Pope Francis’ coffin being closed at the Vatican
The celebration, presided by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a Catholic Church camerlengo, included the reading of “Rogito”, a document that summarizes the milestones of Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s life and pontificate. Among the records were his experience in Germany, where he lived a few months, his routine as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and his performance as the 266th Pope of the Church.
During the rite, archbishop Diego Ravelli covered the pontiff’s face with a white silk cloth, while Farrell sprinkled him with holy water. Then a bag of coins and medals was placed in the coffin during their pontificate.
The coffin lid was then closed, bringing a cross, Francisco’s coat of arms and a sign with his name, the dates of birth, ordination and pontificate. The internal coffin of zinc received the seals of the Cardinal Cardinal of the Catholic Church, the papal liturgy and the Vatican chapter, before being deposited in the outer wooden coffin, also sealed.
The act precedes the funeral of the Pontiff, scheduled for this Saturday (26.abr.2025), at 10am (5am in Brasilia), with mass presided by Farrell in St. Peter’s Square.
With the closure of the rite, the body will be transferred to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior, where it will be buried. Francisco will be the 1st Pope in over 147 years other than buried in the Vatican. He had requested in will be buried in place for his personal connection with the temple and devotion to the image of the Safety of the Roman people.
