The form, symbols and rites for the death of a Pope in the Catholic Church It will be different after Francisco’s death, occurred this Monday, April 21.
The Argentine Pope He always sought to be a simple pontiff and proclaimed that the church should be humble, poor and that will always look for closeness and empathy with the most needy.
The precisely that simplicity that He led him to modify some rites and procedures that generally apply in the Vatican, Headquarters of Catholicism, after the death of a pontiff. Therefore, this funeral sIt will be somewhat different from their predecessors.
“Especially because It was he who approved the new rules On how the pontiffs of Catholicism should be buried, “recalls a British chain note BBC News World.
It was in April 2024 that Francisco He endorsed the book that reflects the changes for the rites of papal funerals: Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis.
What the Pope really wanted was that the head of the Catholic Church It was buried as “a pastor and disciple of Christ”, and not as much as a powerful man.
These are Some of the modifications.
A single coffin
In general, The potato body was buried in three coffins: the first, which was cypress; a second, which was lead; and up to a third, which was oak.
This aimed to be A rather hermetic wrapping for the body of the pontiffs.
However, after its own modifications, and continuing with the line of simplicity, Francisco will be buried in a wooden coffin covered with zinc.
In private chapel
Another of the changes consists in the process for the finding of the death of the Pope, which must now be done in a private chapel And not in his residence, as was traditionally done.
“This is because the Pope, unlike his predecessors, did not live in the private apartment of the Vatican, but in the residence of guests of Santa Marta “, points the BBC
Without catafalco
Another of the notable changes that Francisco introduced It is the elimination of catafalco. This is “a high platform cover with velvet in which the body of the deceased Pope was located during exposure to the faithful,” the British chain records.
The cataphalco was used After the transfer of the Pontiff’s body to the Basilica of San Pedro, to be veiled by the faithful.
No staff
Generally, the staff, symbol of authority in the church, He was introduced into the Pope’s coffin.
“Now the Pope’s body will be in his coffin, without his staff, at first glance of the faithful who want to give him a last goodbye “, The news chain says.
The Burial Place
One of Francisco’s most notable changes will be the place of absolute rest. With the changes, The Pontiff may decide before his death where he can be buried.
As a tradition, the potatoes have been buried in the caves that are under the Basilica of San Pedro; However, Francisco It will fall in the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor, that is found in Rome, out of the delimitation of the Vatican.
That decision of Francisco to rest in this place is loaded with symbolism: “Before and after many of its 47 apostolic trips, Francisco prayed to the image of the Virgin known as “Salus Populi Romani“ (Protector of the Roman people) “, emphasizes the BBC.
A singular will
On April 21 the Vatican revealed the testament of Pope Francis, which was written in 2022.
In documents, the Argentine Pope It makes specific requests on where and how you want to be buried.
One of his phrases regarding those wishes reveals the simple spirit that characterized it:
“The grave must be on earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only registration: Franciscus.”