Declaration of Death and Sealing of Papal Apartments

At 8:00 pm on Monday, 21 April, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, presided over the rite of ascertainment of death and placement of Pope Francis’ body in the coffin. The ceremony took place in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta in the presence of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, members of the Holy Father’s family and Dr Andrea Arcangeli and Dr Luigi Carbone, respectively, Director and Deputy Director of Vatican City State’s Directorate of Health and Hygiene.

Following the rite, Dr Andrea Arcangeli, confirmed that the Pope had died after suffering a stroke, which led to a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse. According to the medical report, Pope Francis had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type ii diabetes.

After the rite of ascertainment, seals were placed on the papal apartment on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace and on the second-floor apartment of Casa Santa Marta, where Pope Francis lived.