First photos released of Pope Francis in his casket; funeral set for Saturday

The first pictures of Pope Francis' body since his death were disclosed on Tuesday and his funeral has been scheduled for Saturday morning The images indicated Francis lying in a wooden casket wearing red vestments and his bishop s miter as the Vatican Secretary of State is seen praying over him in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived Cardinals met for the first time on Tuesday in the Vatican's synod hall to establish the next initiatives before a conclave begins to select the next pope The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at a m in St Peter s Square It will be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re and ordinary faithful may begin paying their final respects starting Wednesday when his casket is brought into St Peter's Basilica TRUMP WILL ATTEND POPE FRANCIS' FUNERAL IN ROME DESPITE CONTENTIOUS PAST 'LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THERE 'U S President Donald Trump noted he and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend the funeral Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected to attend the funeral of the pontiff who was born in Argentina Francis died Monday morning at the age of after suffering a stroke that landed him in a coma and resulted in his heart failure His death marked the end of his -year papacy as the th pope and spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church The pope who suffered from chronic lung malady and had part of one lung removed when he was younger spent days in Rome's Gemelli hospital starting on Feb to treat a respiratory problem that developed into double pneumonia He was still recovering when he made his last populace appearance on Sunday delivering an Easter blessing and what would be his final greeting to followers from his popemobile The pope also met with U S Vice President JD Vance on Easter Sunday at the Casa Santa Marta Francis' Easter appearance was made in the same loggia where he was introduced to the world as the first pope of the Americas on March He gave himself to the end Cardinal Matteo Zuppi the head of the Italian bishops' conference and a manageable contender to be next pope commented To go out to meet everyone speak to everyone teach us to speak to everyone to bless everyone EMPIRE STATE BUILDING SHINES IN GOLD WHITE IN MEMORY OF POPE FRANCIS AFTER PONTIFF'S DEATHIn his final will Francis endorsed he would be buried at St Mary Major basilica which is located outside the Vatican and home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary Francis stopped by the basilica on his way home from the Gemelli hospital on March after the longest hospitalization of his papacy to deliver flowers to be placed before the icon He returned on April to pray before the Madonna for the last time The Associated Press contributed to this analysis