The doors of Pope Francis’s apartment were sealed with a single red ribbon and molten wax in a solemn ceremony that took place just hours after his death.

Steeped in tradition, the formalities on Monday night took place in Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guest house for visiting clerics where the late pope chose to live after eschewing the grandeur of the Apostolic Palace where his predecessors resided.

Overseeing it all was Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who overnight has become the most important figure in the Catholic Church as the temporary head of the 1.4 billion strong congregation.

Cardinal Farrell, who was born in Ireland but has spent much of his life in the US, is the Vatican’s camerlengo or chamberlain.

As such, he will now run the administrative and financial affairs of the Holy See until a new pope is elected in the secretive process known as the conclave.

On Monday morning, it was his responsibility to announce the death of Pope Francis to the world.

“At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” he said in Italian with a pronounced Irish accent.

“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.”