Vatican City, April 26, 2025 – The Europe Today: On the eve of the funeral Mass, the coffin of Pope Francis was solemnly sealed during a private ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the conclusion of a public farewell attended by approximately 250,000 mourners, News Consultants Hub reported.
Since Wednesday, the late Pope had lain in state, drawing a steady stream of visitors from around the world. As the final mourners filed past, the basilica was gradually cleared in preparation for the funeral, scheduled for Saturday morning.
In accordance with Francis’ wishes, the deceased Pontiff lay in front of the Confessio altar, placed in a simple wooden coffin at ground level without a catafalque. He was wrapped in a red chasuble, wearing a white mitre, and holding a rosary in his clasped hands.
The sealing ceremony was presided over by Cardinal-Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, beginning with the reading of an official document summarizing the key moments of Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s life and his most significant achievements as the 266th Pope. The document affirmed that the memory of Pope Francis “remains in the heart of the Church and of all humanity.” It also recalled milestones such as his time in Germany in the late 1980s and his pastoral work in Argentina, describing him as “a simple and popular pastor” who traveled widely by metro and bus, lived modestly in an apartment, and prepared his own meals.
During the ceremony, Archbishop Diego Ravelli spread a white silk cloth over the face of the late Pope, and Cardinal Farrell sprinkled the coffin with holy water. A bag containing coins and medals minted during Francis’ pontificate was placed alongside him in the coffin.
The zinc inner coffin was then closed and adorned with the Pope’s cross, his coat of arms, and a plaque bearing his name and the dates of his life and Petrine ministry. As psalms were sung, the coffin was sealed with the official seals of the Cardinal-Camerlengo, the Prefecture of the Papal Household, the Office for Liturgical Celebrations, and the Vatican Chapter. Finally, the zinc coffin was enclosed within the wooden coffin, which bears a cross and the late Pope’s coat of arms.
The private ceremony marked a solemn and poignant conclusion to the days of public mourning for one of the most beloved figures of the modern Catholic Church.
