The coffin of Pope Francis was sealed in a private ceremony inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Friday evening (early Saturday morning in the Philippines), marking the final preparation for the funeral.
About 250,000 people from different parts of the world have paid their final respects to the Pope’s remains following the three-day public viewing.
The sealing ceremony was led by Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell and attended by senior Vatican officials as well as select members of the Pope’s family.
The rites began with the reading of an official document recounting key moments in Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s life and papacy, with the text honored the 266th Pope as one whose memory “remains in the heart of the Church and of all humanity.”
Pope Francis has lain in state in front of the Confessio altar since Wednesday in a simple wooden coffin at ground level, dressed in red and white liturgical garments, without a catafalque in accordance with his wishes.
During the ceremony, Archbishop Diego Rabelli covered the pope’s face with a white silk cloth, and Cardinal Farrell sprinkled the body with holy water, and coins and medals from his pontificate were placed inside the coffin as per tradition.
“Now that the ceremony is over, the Chapter of St Peter will hold a prayer vigil by the coffin all night, until the Pope's funeral begins tomorrow morning,” Vatican News said.
The funeral mass for Pope Francis is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning in St. Peter's Square (4 p.m. local time in the Philippines).
Approximately 200,000 people were expected to gather at the funeral, including cardinals, bishops, and dignitaries from around the world.
Among the attending world leaders are President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
