Pope Francis' funeral: New simplified rites unveiled
The funeral of Pope Francis will proceed according to a streamlined ritual detailed in a document released in November of last year. The ceremony is designed to highlight the Holy Father's role as a shepherd and disciple of Christ. The previous funeral guidelines had been in place since 1998.
What you need to know
- New funeral ritual: The funeral of Pope Francis will adhere to a simplified ritual described in the document from last November. The new guidelines aim to underscore the pope’s role as a shepherd and disciple of Christ.
- Changes to the ceremony: Instead of three coffins, the pope's body will be placed in two: one oak and one zinc coffin. The wooden coffin is simple and modest, reflecting the new approach to the ceremony.
- Place of burial: Pope Francis expressed a desire to be buried in the Roman papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, which was noted in his will.
What changes did Pope Francis make?
The new funeral guidelines, which replace those from 1998, were introduced to emphasize the spiritual dimension of the ceremony. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the papal master of ceremonies, explained that the ritual is intended to depict the pope as a shepherd, not a ruler. These changes consider insights from the funerals of John Paul II and Benedict XVI and adapt to current theological and ecclesiastical sensibilities.
Why is the funeral ritual simplified?
The simplification of Pope Francis's funeral ritual results from his directive for the ceremony to be more modest and aligned with contemporary liturgical guidelines. In the new ritual, the omission of the third cypress coffin is a symbolic gesture of simplicity.
One of the changes involves the simplification of the pope’s titles. It reverts to the terminology used in the 2008 edition of the Roman Missal: pope, bishop of Rome, and shepherd. Additionally, the document provides guidelines for the potential burial of the pope in a location other than St. Peter’s Basilica.
