Vatican releases images of Pope Francis in open casket as cardinals due to set funeral date – live

Pope Francis, the head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, died at his home in the Vatican on Monday aged 88 after suffering a stroke

The Vatican has released first pictures showing Francis in open coffin during the rite of certification of death that took place in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta in Vatican last night.

Vatican News reported that “during the rite, the declaration of death was read aloud. The act was validated by Cardinal Farrell, and the ceremony lasted just under an hour.”