Joanna M. Pierce is Professor Emeta Religious In College of the Holy Cross.
The 88-year-old Pantif knew well about his fragile condition and old age. Already in 2015, Pope Francis have expressed the desire be buried in Basilica Santa -MajiraThe Church of the Fifth Century in Rome, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was so devoted to Mary and her Basilica that after each of his more than 100 trips, he would visit her after returning to Rome to pray and think.
Dad is not buried in Santa -Mary Majiore since the 17th century when Dad Clement Ix was laid to rest there.
I am A specialist in Catholic liturgical history. In earlier centuries, papal burials were difficult, ceremonies that correspond to the Renaissance Prince or other royal figure. But in recent years Rites were simplified. Pope Pope Francis, who provided, are the steps that will follow the ritual.
First Station: Training Body
The funeral rites take place in three parts called stations. The first occurs in the Pope's private chapel after medical professionals received certification His death. Until recently, this stage was held by the Pope's bed.
Once the body lies at rest in the chapel, Cardinal serves the pope's chamberlang – The Chief of Staff of the Pope – will make the funeral agreements. He is also instructed to manage the Vatican while Selected new daddy. The present CamenerLEngo is Cardinal Kevin Joseph FarralAppointed Francis in 2019.
As it was done over the centuries, the chamberlain will officially call the deceased Pope by the full name given to him when he was baptized by the infant – Jorge Mario Bergolio. There are stories or legends saying that at this time the dad also tapping three times on the forehead a small silver hammer. However, there is no documentary evidence that this was actually done in the previous centuries to check the Pope's death.
Traditionally, another ancient rite will also take place after the Pope's death declaration: the cancellation of the Pope's Ring. Each pope wears a ring with a engraved pattern of a man who fish from the boat, listening back to the Gospel from Matthew, where Jesus calls St. Peter A ''Fisher men“Ring of this fisherman named Current Pope is engraved on the picturecan act as a seal in official documents. Camenerlengo break the ring of Francis and break the seal with a hammer or other tools to prevent it from using any other person.
Pope's apartments will also be closed with No one allowed logging; Traditionally, this was done to prevent robbery.
Second Station: Body View
The deceased dad will be dressed in his white squad and red clothes and then placed in A simple wooden coffin. This will be moved to the procession to St. Peter's basil, where public viewing will take place in the next three days.
The pope's body will remain in the plain open box during this viewing period to emphasize the modest role of the Pope as a pastor not the head of state. A previous practice would be to place the body on a high raised platform, called the hearse; This ended with the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI in 2022.
Pope Benedict was also the last pope who was buried in traditional Three coffin cypress, lead and elm. Two coffins contained specific documents about his pontificate; The first coffin also kept Traditional three sacs from coins – Gold, silver and copper – presenting Each year of his pontificate.
At the funeral of Francis, after the public viewing, a regular white cloth will be placed through the Pope's face, if he lies in an oak coffin that continues part of the papal burial. But it will be the first time if only Will be used single coffin; it probably will contain a document that describes its pontificate and a bag of coins from its pontificate too.
Then the funeral Mass will be celebrated in Saint -Petro, most likely inside the late winter weather, and probably will be a crowd of believers on the street, collected on the square. Hamille will reflect on the life and spirituality of the deceased Pope; Francis Himself preached At the funeral of his retired predecessor, Pope Benedict. And the future Pope Benedict, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger preached At the funeral of Pope St. John Paul II When Ratzinger was a leader or dean, of all high -ranking church officials, what is known as the Cardinals College.
The current dean-91-year-old guy Cardinal Giovanni Batista re –And it is unclear whether he will be able to continue this tradition from his older age. Masses will continue to speak in memory of Francis within nine days after his death – period called Navendialis. This ritual was inspired by the ancient Roman tradition that appointed the term of mourning ending on the ninth day After death.
Third Station: Burial
Pope in the past were buried in several different places. Before the legalization of Christianity in the Roman Empire at the beginning of the fourth century the Pope would be Mutually in Katakombi, burial on the outskirts Rome.
After that, the Pope could be buried in a number of different places, such as St. John Lateran's Basilica – the official Cathedral of Rome – or other churches in Rome and around him. Several were Even buried in France During the 14th century, when the papacy moved to the French border for political reasons.
Most popes are buried in the grotto under St. Peter and since then Pope Leo XIII Burial in St. John Lateran in 1903, every Pope was buried in St. Peter. According to Francis wishes, however, there will probably be a procession all over Rome to Santa Maggiore, including the hearse and cars that transport others who will visit this private ritual.
After several final prayers and sprinkling of the holy water, the coffin will be placed in the final place inside the church. Only later the area will be opened for the public for prayer and veneration.
After so many travels from Rome to visit the Catholic communities in the world, and so much visits to this basilica for prayer and meditation seems to approach that at the end of his life, Francis made the last trip to the church, which he so loved to lay on himself forever.
This article is reissued with Talk Under the Creative Commons license.