The Exploding Pontiff: 5 Shocking Facts About The Botched Embalming Of Pope Pius XII

The death of a Pope is a moment of solemnity, tradition, and ritual, but the passing of Pope Pius XII in October 1958 became a historical catastrophe that few in the Vatican would ever forget. This event, which unfolded at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, transformed a moment of sacred mourning into a grotesque international scandal due to a disastrously failed attempt at preservation.

The details surrounding the post-mortem treatment of Pope Pius XII’s body are a morbid, yet critically important, chapter in the history of the papacy. The controversy centered on one man—the Pope's personal physician—and his unorthodox, unproven method that led to rapid and shocking decomposition, a scandal so profound it forced the modernization of papal death care protocols that continue to this very day in December 2025.

Pope Pius XII: A Complete Biographical Profile

Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli, who reigned as Pope Pius XII, led the Catholic Church through one of the most tumultuous periods in modern history. His pontificate was marked by the Second World War, the rise of Communism, and the beginning of the Cold War, making his legacy one of profound consequence and ongoing historical debate.

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• Birth Name: Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli
• Born: March 2, 1876, in Rome, Kingdom of Italy
• Died: October 9, 1958 (aged 82), at Castel Gandolfo, Italy
• Pontificate: March 2, 1939 – October 9, 1958
• Predecessor: Pope Pius XI
• Successor: Pope John XXIII
• Key Historical Context: His papacy spanned the entirety of World War II and the immediate post-war era, during which he maintained a policy of public neutrality while engaging in extensive diplomatic efforts and humanitarian aid.
• Legacy: His wartime actions remain a subject of intense scholarly and public discussion, but his encyclicals, such as Mystici Corporis Christi and Humani Generis, profoundly shaped modern Catholic theology.

The Catastrophic Decision: Dr. Galeazzi-Lisi's 'Revolutionary' Method

The entire, appalling failure rests squarely on the shoulders of one man: Dr. Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi. He was Pope Pius XII’s personal physician, known by the title of Papal Archiater. Crucially, Dr. Galeazzi-Lisi was an ophthalmologist, a specialist in eye diseases, not a forensic pathologist or a professional mortician. This lack of expertise proved fatal to the Pope’s post-mortem dignity.

The Rejection of Tradition

Following a Pope's death, the traditional practice involved a simple, centuries-old preservation method—often a basic injection of formaldehyde or a partial evisceration and treatment with aromatic spices, a procedure that was usually performed by a team of experienced professionals. Dr. Galeazzi-Lisi, however, was obsessed with a "revolutionary technique" he had developed. He convinced the Vatican authorities to allow him to perform the embalming himself, rejecting the established protocols and the assistance of experienced mortuary specialists.

The Unorthodox Procedure

The doctor’s method was based on a flawed concept of preserving the body by copying the process used to preserve the relics of saints. He claimed his technique, which involved injecting a preservative solution directly into the body cavities and wrapping the body in plastic sheeting, would ensure a natural, serene appearance without the need for evisceration or arterial injection. The specifics of the solution are not fully known, but it was a catastrophic failure of thanatopraxy.

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The process was conducted in the hot, humid environment of Castel Gandolfo, far from the cooler, controlled conditions of the Vatican. Without proper arterial injection, the preservative never reached the extremities or deep tissues. The plastic wrapping, intended to seal the body, instead created a humid, anaerobic environment—the perfect breeding ground for putrefaction and anaerobic bacteria. This was the precise opposite of what a mortician would do.

The Grotesque Aftermath: Decomposition and Public Scandal

The results of the botched embalming were immediate, shocking, and profoundly disrespectful to the deceased pontiff. The body had to be transported from Castel Gandolfo to Rome for the public viewing and funeral, a journey that became a spectacle of horror.

The Rapid Deterioration

Within hours of the procedure, the body began to decompose rapidly. The heat and the failed preservation method caused severe and rapid gas buildup. As the body was moved, the pressure from the gases became immense. Multiple accounts describe the body swelling dramatically, turning a dark, purplish-black color, and emitting an overpowering, noxious odor. The body was literally "exploding" as the internal pressure found release, leading to a truly grotesque sight for all who witnessed it.

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The International Press Frenzy

The scandal was compounded by Dr. Galeazzi-Lisi's astonishing breach of medical and professional ethics. During the Pope's final days, the physician, who was also a keen photographer, had taken photographs of the dying Pontiff and even recorded his last words. He then attempted to sell these deeply private images and recordings to the international press. This act of betrayal, combined with the mortuary failure, led to an unprecedented media frenzy.

• Public Viewing Disaster: Swiss Guards reportedly fainted while standing vigil due to the intense odor and the horrifying condition of the body.
• The Stench of Failure: The smell was so pervasive that the Vatican had to apply copious amounts of perfume and air fresheners, and the viewing was restricted and shortened.
• The Doctor's Punishment: Dr. Galeazzi-Lisi was immediately dismissed from his post as Papal Archiater and subsequently banned from the Vatican City for life.

The Enduring Legacy: Modernizing Papal Death Protocols

The catastrophic embalming of Pope Pius XII served as a brutal, unforgettable lesson for the Vatican. The embarrassment on the world stage was so severe that it directly triggered a complete overhaul of the procedures and personnel responsible for the care of a deceased Pope. This event, though decades old, remains one of the most infamous mortuary fails in modern history.

The New Standard of Care

When Pope John XXIII died in 1963, only five years after Pius XII, the Vatican ensured that professional, experienced embalmers and forensic specialists were brought in. The subsequent deaths of Popes Paul VI and John Paul I, and the lying-in-state of Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI, all followed strict, modern, and professional protocols. The body of Pope John XXIII, for instance, was preserved using traditional methods and remains remarkably intact today, a stark contrast to the fate of his predecessor.

The Topical Authority of the Event

The story of the "Exploding Pope" continues to be a point of reference in mortuary science and historical studies. It is a textbook case used by forensic pathologists and morticians to illustrate the dangers of unproven, unorthodox preservation techniques, especially when combined with a lack of proper environmental controls. The failure to use arterial embalming—the standard for decades—was the primary technical error that led to the rapid decomposition.

The scandal also highlights the dangers of power and misplaced trust. The prestige of the Papal Archiater position should have been matched by professional competence, not a misguided belief in a "revolutionary" but ultimately disastrous personal method. The lessons learned from the embalming of Pope Pius XII have permanently altered the solemn traditions of the Holy See, ensuring that the dignity of the Pontiff's body is preserved through proven, professional means.