Pope Francis had lived in the Santa Marta guest house in the Vatican, not far from St Peter's Basilica, since his election in 2013, and died there on Easter Monday. Unlike many of his predecessors Francis decided against living in the apartment prepared for him in the Apostolic Palace.

In changes made by Pope Francis last year, his body was not placed in three wooden coffins, as it had been for previous popes.

Francis died Monday morning at the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived at the Vatican. His death came almost a month after he returned to the Vatican after being hospitalized for double pneumonia. The Vatican said that Francis suffered a stroke that led to a coma and caused his heart to fail.