RT by @mikenov: The lying-in-state of Pope Pius XII in October 1958, whose funeral proceedings became infamous due to a disastrous experimental embalming method…. Pope Pius XII’s personal physician, Dr. Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi (who was an ophthalmologist rather than a trained mortician), attempted a non-invasive, “aromatic osmosis” method. Instead of traditional arterial embalming and the removal of internal organs, the body was treated with oils, resins, and wrapped tightly in cellophane or plastic sheets. . . . . Pius XII died on October 9, 1958, at the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome. He had led the Catholic Church since 1939, through all of World War II. His pers

The lying-in-state of Pope Pius XII in October 1958, whose funeral proceedings became infamous due to a disastrous experimental embalming method….

Pope Pius XII’s personal physician, Dr. Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi (who was an ophthalmologist rather than a trained mortician), attempted a non-invasive, “aromatic osmosis” method. Instead of traditional arterial embalming and the removal of internal organs, the body was treated with oils, resins, and wrapped tightly in cellophane or plastic sheets.

. . . .

Pius XII died on October 9, 1958, at the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome. He had led the Catholic Church since 1939, through all of World War II.

His personal physician, Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi, convinced the Vatican to let him use a new embalming method he had developed. Instead of the traditional process, the body was wrapped in cellophane with herbs, oils and resins, an approach he claimed was inspired by ancient techniques.

Because internal organs and fluids were left intact inside an airtight, warm environment, bacteria proliferated rapidly. The technique failed badly….

During the hot October transfer from Castel Gandolfo to Rome and the subsequent viewing, the body severely discolored, swelled, and emitted a powerful putrid odor. Swiss Guards had to rotate shifts every few minutes due to the fumes, and a wax mask was eventually used to help cover his face.

Rumors and contemporary accounts spread that built-up gases caused the body to rupture or leak during the ceremonies. Dr. Galeazzi-Lisi was subsequently disgraced, dismissed from his position, and banned from Vatican City for life after attempting to sell photographs and details of the pope’s final hours to the press.

The pope was buried in the grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica on October 13.

Galeazzi-Lisi caused another scandal around the same time. He secretly took photos of the dying pope and tried to sell them to the press. He was banned from the Vatican and expelled from Italy’s medical association.

#drthehistories

— @Dr_TheHistories Nov 4, 2026