St. Peter's: The rite of closing the coffin of Pope Francis is underway

"Dearest brothers and sisters," says the celebrant in Latin, "we are gathered here to perform some acts of human piety, before the funeral Mass of our Pope Francis . We will read the deed that recalls his life and his most important works, for which we give thanks to God the Father. We will cover his face with veneration, in the lively hope that he can contemplate the face of the Father, together with the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints."

The Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations then reads the deed, copies of which are signed by some of those present. After the Canticle of Zechariah, everyone prays in silence for some time. And after a further prayer by the celebrant, the Master of Ceremonies spreads a white silk veil over the face of the deceased Pontiff, the celebrant sprinkles the body with holy water. Then the Master places in the coffin the bag with the coins and medals minted during the pontificate and the tube with the deed, after affixing the seal of the Office of Liturgical Celebrations. The lid is then placed on the zinc coffin, on which are the cross, the coat of arms of the deceased Pontiff and the plaque with his name, the length of his life and his Petrine Ministry.

The coffin is welded and the seals of the Cardinal Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, of the Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations and of the Vatican Chapter are impressed. Finally, the wooden coffin is also closed, on whose lid are the cross and the coat of arms of the deceased Pontiff. The singing of the Antiphons and the recitation of the Psalms close the ceremony.

Presiding over the rite: Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. In addition to him and the Master of Liturgical Celebrations, Msgr. Diego Ravelli, the following will participate: Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the Sacred College, Roger Michael Mahony, Cardinal Priest, Dominique Mamberti, Protodeacon, Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of the Basilica, Pietro Parolin, former Secretary of State, Baldo Reina, Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, Konrad Krajewski, Almoner; Monsignors Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute, Ilson de Jesus Montanari, Vice Camerlengo, Leonardo Sapienza, Regent of the Pontifical Household; the canons of the Vatican Chapter, the Vatican Minor Penitentiaries, the Pope's Secretaries and other persons admitted by the Master of Liturgical Celebrations.