A powerful and solemn moment unfolded in the Vatican, marking the beginning of the mourning period for Pope Francis. In a scene steeped in centuries of tradition, cameras captured Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the camerlengo, or chamberlain, overseeing the symbolic sealing of the pope’s official residence.

The footage, shared by Reuters, shows a Vatican employee carefully tying a red ribbon across the door of the Papal Apartment in the Apostolic Palace, followed by the application of a wax seal. Cardinal Farrell steps forward to inspect the seal, ensuring the door is securely shut. The act is deliberate, ceremonial, and full of meaning.

Interestingly, while the Apostolic Palace is traditionally the pope’s residence, Pope Francis had opted for simpler quarters in Casa Santa Marta during his pontificate. Still, the sealing of the traditional papal apartment remains a vital ritual. It's not just about locking a door, it’s a historic gesture performed by the camerlengo to signal the official end of a papacy. Originally intended to prevent looting, today it serves as a profound symbol of transition and reverence, as the Church enters a time of mourning and reflection.

Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed faith in first Vatican Mass

Pope Leo XIV, newly elected as the 267th leader of the Catholic Church and the first American to hol

‘God chose this day’: Catholics worldwide mourn Pope’s death on Easter

Across the globe, Catholics are marking Easter Monday with sorrow as they bid farewell to their spir

Pope Francis’s popemobile to be transformed into mobile clinic for Gaza’s children

One of the popemobiles used by the late Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem will soon se

Mourners gather outside Vatican in historic vigil

I've spent the past few hours nestled between the tables at Il Pozzetto, a cozy little spot on the c

Pope Francis to rest at St Mary Major

In life, Pope Francis was never one to follow the script, and it seems, in death, he’s staying tru

Jared Isaacman Becomes First Civilian to Complete Private Spacewalk on Polaris Dawn

Jared Isaacman Becomes First Civilian to Complete Private Spacewalk on Polaris DawnBillionaire Jare

National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations Urges Members to Disregard GES Guidelines on PTA

The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA) has taken a bold stance against the Gha

First appearans of King Charles after short hospital visit

King Charles has made his first public appearance since being hospitalized following temporary side

×

Close