The Pope's funeral. What did Francis change?

In 2024 the Holy See published a fresh rite of the ceremony of the Bishop of Rome – Ordo exsequiarum romani pontificis. The aim of the changes was to simplify the ceremony, as Pope Francis expected.

The change of papal ceremony rites Francis announced in 2023. erstwhile rites were issued in 2000. Jorge Mario Bergoglio concluded that he no longer responded to our time. The decision to simplify them could have been made earlier, but it seems likely that he did not want to do so before the death of Benedict XVI. Pope Ratzinger was buried on 5 January 2023 in accordance with the erstwhile ceremony, nevertheless with any changes: he yet died not as Pope, but as a "retired" bishop of Rome.

The changes expected by Francis were announced in November 2024. As then explained by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Francis wanted the papal ceremony to show alternatively the shepherdish character of the service of St. Peter's successor. To a lesser degree it would match the ceremony of the ruler, although the Bishop of Rome, as sovereign of the Vatican State, is also.

When the Pope dies, his body will be arranged in a private chapel. There's going to be a papal camera. This function is presently exercised by Irish Cardinal Kevin Farrell. erstwhile the camera finds death, the papal ringing will be destroyed, which officially means the end of the pontificate. Kamerling will inform the Cardinals of the death of the Pope, and then this message will be given to the public.

The body of the Pope will be exhibited in St Peter's Basilica. Traditionally, it should remainder in ceremonial robes on a catafalcus. However, Pope Francis did not want this, most likely considering specified a rite besides pompous. According to the fresh rite, his body will be exhibited in Basilica immediately in a coffin.

There's another change involved. According to tradition, the papal body is buried in 3 coffins: cypress wood, lead, oak wood. Francis will remainder in two: zinc and wood. It will besides considerably simplify the ceremonies related to the laying of the body into coffins, which took place only after the photograph from the catafalcus in Basilica. Now everything will take place much faster.

The ceremony Mass will be seasoned at St. Peter's Basilica Square. She will be chaired by the Dean of the College of Cardinals. It is Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. He's 91. In January of that year, the Pope extended his word of office.

Nor will the conventional rich papal title be utilized during the funeral. It will be replaced by basic terms: Pope, Bishop of Rome, Shepherd.

The last resting place of Francis will be the Basilica of Our woman the Greater in Rome – Santa Maria Maggiore. This is Pope Bergoglia's favourite basilica. The image of Our woman of Snow is besides known as Salus Populi Romani (the salvation of the Roman people). The last predecessors of Francis were buried in St Peter's Basilica, but the decision not to follow in their footsteps is not peculiarly surprising. For example, Leon XIII was buried in St John's Basilica in Lateran, as were many another earlier popes. In turn, Blessed Pius IX rested in the Basilica of St. Lawrence behind the Walls.

Probably about 2 weeks after the ceremony there will be a conclave that will elect Pope Francis' successor. But this is simply a different story.

Paweł Chmielewski