The Vatican announced on Tuesday that Pope Francis' funeral will be held next Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Rome time.

Pope Francis died yesterday, Monday, at the age of 88, after suffering a stroke that caused him to fall into a coma and suffer from heart failure, according to the death certificate issued by the Vatican today.

The Vatican released the first photos of Pope Francis's body, which he found in the Casa Santa Marta church in the Vatican, where he prayed daily.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, head of the Vatican's household, also closed and sealed Pope Francis's residence, according to protocol.

The head of the court, or "camerlengo," is the Vatican official charged with overseeing the daily running of normal business during a vacancy in the Holy See. This cardinal's duties include officially verifying and announcing the death of the pope, ensuring that the deceased pope's ring (called the "Fisherman's Ring") and its lead seal are broken so that no one else can use it.

Cardinals from around the world are expected to flock to Rome to attend Pope Francis' funeral and then begin formal meetings to elect his successor.

Cardinals aged 80 or older may attend general assemblies but are not permitted to participate in the conclave during which the new pope is elected. Only cardinals under 80 can participate in this conclave.

Traditionally, a 15-day mourning period is observed before the conclave begins. Before his resignation in 2013, Pope Benedict XVI amended the constitution to allow the conclave to begin after a shorter period if the cardinals so choose, or at most 20 days after the pope's death if some cardinals are unable to reach Rome.

During the conclave, participants are prohibited from any contact with the outside world, and no telephones, internet access, or newspapers are permitted. The cardinals hold two votes per day during the conclave, except for the first day, when only one vote is held.

For any candidate to succeed, the papacy requires a two-thirds plus one majority of cardinal electors. If no candidate is elected after 13 days, a second round is held between the top two candidates, but the choice remains subject to a two-thirds plus one majority, in order to promote unity and discourage the search for consensus candidates.

When the conclave elects a new pope, he is asked whether he accepts the papacy and what name he wishes to take. If he refuses to accept the task, the election procedure is repeated.

The world knows that a pope has been elected when an official burns ballot papers with special chemicals, causing white smoke to rise from the church chimney. Black smoke symbolizes an inconclusive vote.

The chief cardinal elector, currently French Cardinal Dominique Mamberty, ascends to the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to announce the news to the crowds in the square, saying, "Habemus Papam," meaning "We have a pope." The new pope then appears and gives the crowds his first blessing.