The night before the funeral, the camerlengo presides over the closing and sealing of the coffin, in the presence of other senior cardinals. A white cloth is placed over the pope’s face.

Here are the rites and rituals following a pope's death: Funeral, burial and more A strict process is followed when the pope dies, starting with the declaration of death and ending with the conclave.

As Catholics around the world mourn the death of Pope Francis, the Vatican is preparing for what comes next. (Source: CNN) Why were changes to the funeral rites necessary? While popes often tinker ...

The rites and rituals following the death of a pope, his funeral and burial, explained by: NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Posted: Apr 21, 2025 / 05:15 AM EDT Updated: Apr 21, 2025 / 05:15 AM EDT ...