Pope Francis has introduced changes to simplify the funeral rites for popes, emphasizing humility and a pastoral approach over traditional grandeur, the Vatican announced on Wednesday.
Historically, deceased popes were interred in three nested coffins—cypress, lead, and elm. However, under the new guidelines, a single coffin made of wood and zinc will be used.
The process of confirming the pope’s death will no longer take place in his bedroom but in his private chapel. Instead of the traditional display of the pope’s body on a raised platform with cushions, the open coffin will be laid in St. Peter’s Basilica for the faithful to pay their respects.
According to Diego Ravelli, master of pontifical liturgical celebrations, these updates align with Pope Francis’ vision to present the pope’s funeral as that of a humble pastor and servant of Christ, rather than a figure of worldly power.
This revised protocol, known as the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, was approved in April and replaces the 2000 version used during the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005. The decision reflects Francis’ longstanding efforts to simplify Vatican rituals.
Unlike his predecessors buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis has expressed a wish to be laid to rest in a basilica in Rome. This will make him the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
Despite recent health issues requiring the use of a wheelchair, Pope Francis, who will turn 88 on December 17, remains active and continues to travel. Since his election in 2013, he has consistently favored a modest lifestyle, including choosing a simpler residence within the Vatican over the traditional apostolic palace.
