LOOK: Pope Francis' body lies in state at the chapel of Santa Martha

The Vatican has released photos of Pope Francis in an open casket during the rite of the declaration of death in Santa Marta residence.

The Vatican said the cause of death of the Holy Father was a "stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse."

The official certification was issued by Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State.

The medical report stated that the late Pope "had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes."

The Vatican said Pope Francis will be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in the Pauline Chapel, as requested in his Spiritual Testament. —VAL, GMA Integrated News