Vatican releases photos & videos of Pope Francis in open coffin

The funeral for Pope Francis has been scheduled for 10am (Vatican time) on Saturday, Apr. 26 in front of St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican announced on Apr. 22.

The coffin carrying the pope will be brought in a procession on Wednesday morning to the basilica from his residence at Casa Santa Marta, where he died at age 88 on Monday morning after suffering a stroke and heart failure.

His body will be accompanied by cardinals.

The pope's body was placed in his coffin in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence on Monday.

Vatican releases media of Pope Francis

On Tuesday, the Vatican released the first photos and video of the pope since his death.

He was seen in the wooden coffin wearing a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary intertwined in his hands.

Pope asked to be buried in simple casket

The use of the simple casket is a significant break in tradition, BBC reported.

The coffins used for previous papal burials consisted of three nesting coffins made of cypress, lead and oak.

But Pope Francis asked to be buried in a simple wooden casket.

He is also seen wearing a silver ring adorned with a cross in the casket.

He had opted to wear that silver ring more often during ceremonies instead of a gold one, which was given to him during his inauguration, which is known as the "Fisherman's Ring".

The gold ring was a symbol of his office and he used it sometimes for ceremonies.

It will be destroyed so that it cannot be used by anyone else, according to BBC.

Pope's funeral broken down into three stages

Media released also showed the process known as the formal Confirmation of the Pope's Death, according to the Vatican.

Cardinals and other church officials could be seen praying over his body.

Church officials have also since shared details about the pope's final hours, CBS News reported.

It was described as "a discreet death, almost sudden, without long suffering or public alarm".

The papal funeral is broken down into three separate phases, or "stations".

They are the preparation of the body, the viewing of the body, and then the burial.

The pontiff will lie in state ahead of his funeral at the basilica from Wednesday morning, the Vatican said.

The funeral mass will be celebrated three days later.

Top photo via Vatican News