Photo: open sources
The funeral of Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88, will be held in accordance with long-standing Catholic traditions, but in the spirit of modesty that the late pontiff adhered to to the last. This was reported by Axios.
What we know:
The Holy See is preparing to honour the Pope, who has gone down in history as a reformer and spiritual leader who put simplicity above ceremony. In the coming days, world leaders, religious leaders and believers from around the world will arrive at the Vatican to say goodbye to Francis and open a new era for the Catholic Church.
According to the Vatican press service, the Pope’s body will be put on display for a public farewell in St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning.
Although the Vatican has not yet disclosed all the details of the funeral, the main stages have already been outlined in accordance with the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis.
The first hours after death:
On Monday evening, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, acting as chamberlain, officially certified the Pope’s death and performed the rituals to prepare the body. He also sealed the papal residence in St. Martha’s House and removed the papal ring, a symbol of the pontiff’s power that is traditionally destroyed after the pope’s death.
Funeral plans:
The College of Cardinals has already initiated preparations for the funeral. The funeral is scheduled to take place in four to six days, depending on the weather, and, according to tradition, will be held in St Peter’s Square. The solemn mass is to be led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, 91-year-old Giovanni Battista Re, although his participation has not yet been confirmed.
The death of Pope Francis also marked the beginning of Novemdiales, a nine-day period of official mourning during which Masses are celebrated daily for the repose of the pontiff’s soul.
Reform of the funeral rite:
Pope Francis himself updated the burial ritual for popes in 2024. According to his decrees:
- The Pope’s body is now on display in an open coffin for the faithful to mourn.
- The ceremony of death is not held in a room, but in a chapel.
- Instead of the traditional three coffins (made of cypress, lead and oak), Francis chose a simple coffin made of wood and covered with zinc.
- “The purpose of the renewed rite,” said Archbishop Diego Ravelli, “is to emphasise that this is the funeral of a disciple of Christ, not a secular ruler.
The Pope also expressed his desire to be buried not in St Peter’s Basilica, as most of his predecessors had been, but in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, outside the Vatican. This decision symbolises his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary and his willingness to follow his own path even after death.
Political and religious reactions:
The global community is deeply affected by the loss. Delegations from dozens of countries are expected to arrive. At the same time, talks are already beginning in church circles about the next pope, who will inherit Francis’ mission of being a good shepherd for the world in times of trial.
