Was the pope embalmed? Everything to know as Pope Francis lies in state in St. Peter's Basilica for 3 days ahead of funeral

As the world mourns Pope Francis' passing, thousands of faithful pilgrims and global dignitaries are gathering at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the late pontiff lies in state ahead of his scheduled funeral.

On April 21, 2025, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis, died on Easter Monday peacefully at his residency at Saint Martha House in Vatican City.

According to France 24, the funeral of the Pope is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025. Before that, the body of the Pope had undergone a temporary embalming process known as thanatopraxy for a three-day display in Saint Peter's Basilica.

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Inside the final rites of Pope Francis at St Peters' Basilica

On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the founder of the Italian National Institute of Thanatopraxy (INIT), Andrea Fantozzi, revealed to AFP that the body of Pope Francis has gone through a process of temporary embalming to keep the body secure till his funeral.

According to Fantozzi, the process of embalming involves injecting "preservative liquids" in order to slow down the process of decomposition before the final rites.

"It involves the injection of preservative liquids through the circulatory system, followed by aesthetic care of the face and hands. The goal is to slow down the natural processes of decomposition," Fantozzi told AFP.

The founder of INIT also suggested that the embalming process must be completed within 36 hours of death, and takes a few hours.

The chemicals used help the body look more peaceful and lifelike, and this effect can last for about 10 days.

In addition, the use of thanatopraxis for embalming has been used in the Catholic Church for many years, and it has been considered a ritual for the final rites of the deceased.

Not only this, but in past times, the Pope's bodies were used to undergo more invasive techniques, such as the removal of internal organs and replacement of them with substances such as formalin and alcohol for better preservation.

According to Euro News reports, Pope Francis' body has been displayed in the St Peters' Basilica from Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 11:00 am until Friday, April 25, 2025, for hundreds of thousands of faithful Catholics to bid farewell to the Pope.

Furthermore, the body of the Pope is displayed in a simple zinc coffin inside a wooden one.

According to the outlet, before his death, Pope requested not to display his body on a catafalque nor inside the usual triple coffin of cypress, lead, and oak. In addition, the coffin will remain open during the ostension.

The death of Pope Francis was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo, through a video statement in a broadcast by Vatican Media at 09:45 am, just two hours after the Pope's death. The statement can be read as —

"Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father... With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God," Cardinal Kevin Farrell said.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, elected in 2013. He was known for his humility, focus on social justice, and efforts to make the Church more compassionate and inclusive.

No further information has been provided.