Typically, corpses left in the open air can begin to swell and disintegrate - a rather unpleasant sight.

London's Guardian noted "plenty of tales from history of exploding bodies (Henry VIII was apparently quite spectacular) and disintegrating cadavers (Pius XII turned black in 1958 and his nose fell off - and that was in October)."

The British paper had a London undertaker review the pope's situation.

"Yes, well, they've obviously embalmed him - don't worry about that," Barry Albin, the owner of Albin and Sons, told the Guardian.

"I think you will find that he's been chilled and the body may be lying on an ice-tray. He's not got a wax mask so I should say that they have embalmed him at least from the neck upwards and they will have covered the body in skin creams. I am confident that his head's had cream all over it."

One reason the Vatican is reluctant to embalm a body is the matter of sainthood.

Already Pope John Paul II is being touted for future canonization.

The process for sainthood is a lengthy one, and often the body of a candidate for sainthood is disinterred.

If they are found "incorruptible" - with no noticeable decompostion of their body - it is evidence the person was indeed a saint.

Embalming the body of a potential saint would undermine any judgement about their sainthood.

Editor's note: