In Rome, the spring heat did not stop the massive influx of faithful who came to bid farewell to Pope Francis. The Argentine pontiff, who died Monday at the age of 88, now lies in state in St. Peter's Basilica, awaiting public veneration before his funeral scheduled for Saturday. To slow the inevitable effects of time, his body underwent meticulous embalming and cosmetic treatments.
A precise and discreet ritual under the seal of the Vatican
While the Holy See remains silent on details, Italian media are reporting the intervention of the Italian National Institute of Embalming (INIT), already in charge of preparing Benedict XVI's body in 2022. Its founder, Andrea Fantozzi, explains that the technique involves injecting preservative fluids into the deceased's circulatory system. The face and hands are then treated with makeup and a manicure to preserve a dignified and serene expression, faithful to the pope's public image. Performed within 36 hours of death, this procedure can maintain the body's appearance for about ten days, enough time to allow the faithful and heads of state expected Saturday to pay their last respects. The Vatican published images of the pope, lying in his coffin, wearing a red chasuble and miter, his hands clasped around a rosary. A final moment frozen in the silence of contemplation.
