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Pope Francis Planned His Funeral Shortly Before Death – Broke Tradition for the First Time in 120 Years!
Pope Francis, known for his pursuit of simplicity and humility, has planned his own funeral, introducing significant changes to the traditional rites that have been followed for over 120 years. These decisions aim to simplify the ceremony and better reflect the spiritual nature of the papal ministry.
No Public Display of the Body
In the book-length interview titled The Successor, Pope Francis revealed that his body will not be placed on a catafalque (a raised platform for public viewing), as was the custom for previous popes. Instead, it will be placed directly in the coffin, with the intention of maintaining dignity and simplicity in the ceremony. Francis found the previous rites to be overly elaborate and decided to simplify them.
(Source: Polsat News)
Changes in the Funeral Rite
The new funeral rites, approved by the Vatican, introduce several major changes:
The official pronouncement of the pope’s death will take place in his private chapel, not in his room.
The body will be placed immediately into the coffin, eliminating the previous practice of public viewing.
The traditional use of three coffins (cypress, lead, and oak) has been replaced by two: one wooden and one zinc.
(Source: Vatican News)
These changes emphasize that a pope’s funeral is the ceremony of a shepherd and disciple of Christ, not that of a monarch.
Place of Burial
Pope Francis expressed his wish to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, rather than the traditional burial place of popes in Saint Peter’s Basilica. This location holds special spiritual significance for him, as he prayed there before every important journey and after each return from the hospital.
(Source: RMF24)
Symbolic Meaning of the Changes
The decisions made by Pope Francis reflect his consistent effort to simplify Church ceremonies and focus on the spiritual aspect of faith. Through these changes, he wants his funeral to be a testimony of the humility and service that marked his pontificate.
These reforms set a new standard for papal funerals, breaking with centuries-old tradition and highlighting the Church’s spiritual mission.