When it comes to his funeral, Pope Francis made it clear that he wanted a simpler ceremony compared to past Popes, emphasizing the importance of dignity but also of humility, just like any other Christian. He expressed his desire not to be displayed on a catafalque and to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore instead of St. Peter’s Basilica. He then decided to establish new guidelines for papal funerals, which, if unchanged, will apply to all future Pontiffs. These rules were specifically written for his own funeral, and Pope Francis was well aware of them.
Among the changes introduced are the declaration of death in the chapel rather than the room of the deceased, immediate placement in the coffin, public viewing of the Pope’s body already in the open coffin for veneration, and the elimination of the traditional three coffins made of cypress, lead, and oak. Another significant change is the inclusion of instructions for potential burial in a location other than the Vatican Basilica.
To prepare for this, the Office of Liturgical Celebrations, following Pope Francis’ instructions, had already drafted and published the second typical edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis. Approved by Pope Francis on April 29, 2024, the first printed copy was presented to him on November 4. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Liturgical Celebrations, explained to the Vatican media that the second edition was necessary to simplify and adapt certain rituals as requested by Pope Francis to better reflect the Church’s faith in the Resurrected Christ.
The classic three “stations” will still be part of the funeral proceedings, including one at the deceased’s residence, one at the Vatican Basilica, and one at the burial site. However, the internal structure of these stations and texts has been revised based on the experiences from the funerals of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Notable changes include the simplification of pontifical titles.
The first station at the residence now involves verifying the death in the private chapel instead of the bedroom and placing the body in a single wooden coffin and an internal zinc coffin before the transfer to the Basilica. The second station at the Vatican Basilica includes a single transfer to St. Peter’s, closing the coffin, and the funeral Mass. The deceased Pope’s body will be directly displayed in the coffin at the Vatican Basilica, as requested by Pope Francis, without a raised catafalque. Finally, the third station at the burial site involves moving the coffin to the tomb and burial.
It remains to be seen how the coffin will be transported from St. Peter’s, where the funeral will take place, to Santa Maria Maggiore, where a tomb has been prepared for Pope Francis. Will there be a grand procession, or will it be done in a more modest manner as per Francis’ style? The Master of Ceremonies, with input from the College of Cardinals meeting tomorrow, is expected to make this decision.
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