Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, is lying in state at the Chapel of Santa Marta in Vatican City following his death on April 21, 2025. The 88-year-old Pope passed away due to a stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure, compounded by a long history of respiratory illness, diabetes, and hypertension.
The Vatican released solemn images of the late pontiff lying in repose inside a simple wooden casket, in keeping with his well-known desire for humility and simplicity. Unlike the traditional layered coffins used for popes often consisting of cypress, lead, and oak Pope Francis chose a plain wooden casket with a zinc lining. Dressed in red papal vestments and his bishop’s miter, he holds a rosary in his hands, a symbol of his enduring devotion to prayer and spiritual reflection.
The vigil at Domus Santa Marta the residence he chose over the papal palace during his lifetime is marked by prayer and mourning. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, was seen praying over the body in a quiet moment of tribute.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Pope Francis was the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. His papacy, which began in 2013, was marked by a strong emphasis on social justice, care for the marginalized, environmental stewardship, and reform within the Church. He pushed for greater transparency, tackled the clerical abuse crisis, and extended a hand of compassion to refugees, the poor, and those often left out by institutional religion.
Francis’ death marks the end of a transformative era for the Catholic Church. He will be remembered not just for the doctrinal debates he led, but also for his deep humility and commitment to living and dying simply.
As mourners file past his body at Santa Marta Chapel, they pay tribute not only to a spiritual leader, but to a man who redefined the papacy for a new generation one grounded in mercy, inclusivity, and the gospel call to serve.
