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Pope Francis -

Following the death of Pope Francis in April 2025, a number of rituals were performed on the pope’s body. Firstly, Francis was transported from his residence at the Vatican to St. Peter’s Basilica soon after his death. 

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Thanatopraxy -

Then, his body was subjected to an embalming process called thanatopraxy. This process allows for the Pope’s body to retain a “natural appearance” for up to 10 days following his death.

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Embalming process -

While Pope Francis’ now-standard embalming process went off without a hitch, some of his predecessors weren't so lucky. In fact, the embalming process Francis underwent is the new and improved procedure, developed after a papal embalming gone wrong. 

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Pope Pius XII -

It’s likely an understatement to simply claim that Pope Pius XII’s reign ended badly. He was born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli and was the Bishop of Rome until he was elected pope in 1939. He served until he died of heart failure in 1958.

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Shocking funeral -

While many popes are remembered for their actions while they were alive, Pope Pius XII’s funeral disaster was one of the most shocking incidents to rock the Vatican in modern times.

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Pope's reign -

During his reign, genocide was taking place in Europe. World War II was ravaging the world as the Nazi Holocaust aimed to eliminate entire ethic groups through systematic means.

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WWII -

The pope’s position on the horrors unfolding was controversial at best. He was widely criticized for choosing impartiality as the papacy's position during the horrid acts of World War II.

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The Vatican stands by -

While many stood against the pope’s position and the inaction of the Catholic Church as it watched genocide without taking a strong position, others deemed the Pope a “saint of God.”

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Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi -

When Pope Pius XII died of heart failure, his reign over the church ended. His physician, Dr Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi, was responsible for preparing his body for his funeral and burial.

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Pope Pius XII's request -

Prior to his death in October of 1958, the pope requested that his organs remain in his body after death. He requested not to be disembowelled. This request was a “break from tradition.”

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The church honored the request -

The pope wished for his body to be buried “in the same condition in which God created it.” The Church respected the his request and his doctor prepared his body accordingly.

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Preparation began -

Galeazzi-Lisi began to prepare the pope’s body with pristine care, despite the unconventional request from the pope to keep all of his organs. This request went against the traditional procedure.

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Ancient method selected -

Galeazzi-Lisi ultimately chose an ancient method of embalming the pope, which included the use of oils and resins. In fact, the doctor actually soaked the pope’s body in a mix of oils.

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Replicate treatment of Jesus' body -

The embalming method also included the use of cellophane, and his body was wrapped in layers of plastic. According to Galeazzi-Lisi, the method he chose for the pope was an effort to “replicate the biblical treatment of Jesus’ body.”

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Gut bacteria -

As per the Pope’s request, Galeazzi-Lisi did not remove or treat any of the Pope’s internal organs. Even after death, our gut bacteria continue to build up. Coupled with continued warm weather at the time, conditions for disaster presented themselves.

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Gas buildup -

In the pope’s case, the buildup of gases in addition to the warm climate conditions actually sped up the process of decomposition. Essentially, the Pope’s gut bacteria were thriving in this environment.

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Rapid deterioration -

The pope’s body began to rapidly deteriorate just days after his death. Ultimately, the pope’s body exploded as he was being transported to the Vatican, shocking mourners who had turned out to watch the procession.

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So, what happened? -

Typically, the process for the preservation of the pope’s body after death would be to remove all the organs and drain the tissues, filling the body with a fluid that would preserve it.

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Autolysis -

According to The Anatomy Lab at Surgeons Hall Museums, by not preserving the pope’s internal organs during the preparations, autolysis occurs. This means that the body’s cells and tissues are consumed by their own enzymes.

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Ancient Egypt -

The complete removal of a person’s organs before embalming is not innovative. The Ancient Egyptians had already mastered the practice and it was a key element in the preservation of the human body.

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Buildup of gases inside the pope's chest -

The process of autolysis in conjunction with putrefaction, which was driven by gut bacteria, produced a significant amount of gas buildup inside the pope’s body. That build-up occurred inside the pope’s chest cavity.

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Body deteriorated -

The Pope’s body rapidly deteriorated. Over the four-day viewing period, his skin turned from a yellowish hue to a dark black. The body essentially "exploded" due to the buildup of gas in the chest cavity. What's more, some of the pope’s fingers and his nose fell off.

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Futile attempt to salvage -

Forensic scientists did their best to try to salvage the pope’s body to withstand the viewing period. The experts used tools such as formalin and cotton, attempting any strategy to mitigate the effects of the explosion.

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Damage irreversible -

Unfortunately, all their efforts were in vain. The damage provoked by the explosion was irreparable. To make the process of the body viewing bearable, they produced a wax mask to place over the pope’s face.

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Guards faint -

The scent was completely overwhelming throughout the viewing period. In fact, the Swiss Guards who were responsible for standing vigil passed out, unable to cope with the scent.

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Rapid rotation -

The situation was so bad for the guards that they had to develop a rapid rotating system to cope with inevitable fainting. Ultimately, the guards standing vigil had to be changed out every 15 minutes.

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The doctor sold information -

The story gets worse. In addition to Galeazzi-Lisi’s massive failure in the embalming process, a controversial exposé also came out, revealing that the doctor had sold information about the pope during his final days.

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The doctor sold photos -

Apparently, Galeazzi-Lisi, the physician whom the pope had trusted deeply, not only divulged information to the press in exchange for payment before the Pope’s death, but also sold photographs.

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Permanent ban from the Vatican -

Unsurprisingly, the Vatican made a harsh decision due to the doctor’s unethical behavior. The Vatican not only dismissed Galeazzi-Lisi but also issued a permanent ban against him.

Sources: (TV47) (LAD Bible) (People) (National Institutes of Health)

See also: Sacred secrets? Surprising papal facts you might not know

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