Items That Will Be Buried With Pope Francis

Pope Francis, who died on Monday morning at the age of 88, is set to be buried on Saturday, April 26, in Rome, Italy. The funeral service will be led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, an American archbishop originally from Ireland.

Although the ceremony will be held in St. Peter’s Square, the late pope will be laid to rest in a special tomb inside the Vatican, honouring the burial request he made before his passing. 

By 8 pm on Friday, April 25, the coffin will be sealed during a special ritual, which will mark the end of the three days of public viewing of his body at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis will be buried in two coffins, marking a departure from the long-standing tradition of using three, typically made from cypress, lead (or zinc), and oak.

Cardinals walk through St. Peter’s Square ahead of the coffin of Pope Francis, who lay in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. /AP

Historically, the first coffin is crafted from cypress, symbolising humility and simplicity. The second, usually zinc, serves to preserve the body due to its airtight nature. The final outer coffin, made of oak, represents the strength and dignity of the papal office.

However, in 2024, Pope Francis introduced reforms to the official Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs), opting for a simpler approach. Honouring his request, he will be buried in a modest wooden casket lined with zinc, rather than the traditional triple-coffin setup.

During the burial rites, Cardinal Kevin Farrell will place a white silk veil over the Pope’s face — a gesture rich in symbolism, representing both divine protection and the belief in resurrection, reminiscent of Christ’s burial cloth. He will then bless the body with holy water.

As part of the burial tradition, a pouch containing coins and commemorative medals minted during Pope Francis' time as pope will be placed in the coffin. These coins — made from gold, silver, and copper — represent each year of his papacy. With 12 years served, a total of 12 coins will be included.

Alongside the coins, a sealed document known as the rogito will be placed in the coffin. This document, which will also be read aloud during the funeral, outlines a brief biography of Pope Francis and highlights key moments of his pontificate.

Before sealing the zinc coffin, Cardinal Farrell will place a cross and the late Pope’s coat of arms on it, along with a plaque inscribed with his birth name, age, and duration of service as pontiff. The zinc coffin will then be officially sealed and stamped with the seals of the Cardinal Camerlengo, the Prefecture of the Papal Household, the Office for Liturgical Celebrations, and the Chapter of St. Peter's Basilica.

Finally, the zinc coffin will be encased in the wooden outer casket, which will be closed and marked once again with the papal cross and coat of arms on its lid.

Security around the Vatican has been significantly increased in anticipation of the funeral, which is expected to draw numerous world leaders and dignitaries, including U.S. President Donald Trump.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula will represent Kenya at the funeral. While delivering condolences at the Apostolic Nunciature in Nairobi alongside fellow MPs, Wetang’ula announced that President William Ruto had nominated him to attend the event on behalf of the nation.