Following confirmation, the pope’s body, dressed in a simple white cassock, is transferred to his private chapel. There, he is vested in red liturgical garments—symbolic of martyrdom and resurrection—and placed in a wooden coffin lined with zinc. Traditional symbols of his office, including the mitre and pallium, are placed beside him.
Next, Cardinal Farrell prepares a formal declaration certifying the pope’s death. At the same time, Vatican officials seal off the late pontiff’s private apartments, and his personal papers are gathered for preservation or review. In one of the most symbolically powerful moments, the pope’s Fisherman’s Ring—used to seal official papal documents—is ceremonially destroyed with a silver hammer, marking the definitive end of his papacy.
The announcement of the pope’s passing also initiates the Novendiale, a traditional nine-day period of mourning. During this time, daily Masses and memorial rites are held in the Vatican and in churches around the world, honoring the life and service of the Holy Father.
