Sad news for the Catholic world... Pope Francis, head of state of the Vatican, died this Monday morning, April 21, at the age of 88. And with the pope's death comes a whole process for his funeral, before the appointment of a successor during the Conclave.
When a pope dies, the Vatican applies a series of funeral rites governed by official texts such as theOrdo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (2000) and the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis (1996). These rites are applied in Rome, mainly within the Vatican City.
In April 2024, Pope Francis announced his intention to modify certain stages of the process at his own funeral, in the interests of simplification. This change takes place within an institutional framework in which the funeral of a pontiff follows a well-defined chronology, without any spectacular elements.
The first phase begins with official recognition of the death by the Camerlingue, currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, in the presence of the Master of Liturgical Celebrations. The death is then recorded and theFisherman's ring destroyed. Pope Francis did not have a Fisherman's ring, but rather his simple ring of episcopal ordination, obtained in 1992 in Buenos Aires. This is followed by the public announcement, usually marked by the tolling of the knell in St. Peter's Basilica.
There are no rules governing the dress of the Swiss Guards, although black and white may have been worn historically. The following nine days, called novemdiales, are devoted to daily masses for the repose of the soul of the deceased pope. The funeral itself takes place between four and six days after the death is announced.
The second phase concerns the funeral rites themselves. Traditionally, the remains were displayed in the Apostolic Palace before being transferred to St. Peter's Basilica. From now on, in accordance with Pope Francis' wishes, the body will no longer be displayed on a catafalque, but directly placed in a simple wooden coffin.
The procession to the basilica will be without exposition, and the coffin will no longer contain symbolic objects. The religious ceremony will be conducted by the dean of the College of Cardinals, with no obligation of precedence by age.
Finally, burial concluded the funeral. The use of three coffins (cypress, lead, oak) is abandoned in favor of a single wooden coffin. Pope Francis has expressed the wish to be laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, rather than in the usual papal crypt in St. Peter's.
He also made it clear that he did not want a casket closing ceremony or additional rites, opting for a single celebration " as for all Christians ". This choice reflects a sober liturgical orientation, at odds with certain ceremonial aspects inherited from the monarchical tradition.
The funeral of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday April 26, starting at 10am. This will be followed by the Conclave and the election of a new pope.
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