Pope Francis’s final message: powerful symbolism even in the afterlife

Funerary objects: a symbolic language

The first images released by the Vatican show the late pope resting in a plain wooden coffin reinforced with zinc. The artifacts arranged around his body tell the story of his spiritual journey.

The elements accompanying the pontiff:

• A rosary , entwined in his fingers, witness to his Marian piety.
• The episcopal insignia (miter and crosier), emblems of his pastoral charge.
• Commemorative medals , struck during his reign, evoking the highlights of his pontificate.
• The rogito , an official sealed parchment, narrating the main stages of his ecclesiastical service.
• The papal ring , ritually broken, signifying the conclusion of his authority.

Each element was selected with intention, forming a visual testament to his spirituality .