The rites and rituals following the death of a pope, his funeral and burial, explained

VATICAN CITY – The decease of a pope sets successful question a bid of cautiously orchestrated rites and rituals good earlier the conclave to elite his successor begins. They impact the certification of decease and nationalist show of his assemblage for the faithful to wage their respects, followed by the ceremonial and burial.

Pope Francis, who died connected Monday, revised assorted rites past year, simplifying the ceremonial rituals to stress his relation arsenic a specified bishop and allowing for burial extracurricular the Vatican successful keeping with his wishes. But the halfway elements remain, including the 3 cardinal moments that indispensable beryllium observed betwixt the decease of a pope and his burial.

The reforms are incorporated into the slim reddish measurement “Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis,” Latin for “Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs.”

Why were changes to the ceremonial rites necessary?

While popes often tinker with the rules regulating the conclave that elects their successor, a revision of the papal ceremonial rites hadn’t been undertaken since 2000.

The changes became indispensable aft Francis expressed his ain wishes, and aft Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI died connected Dec. 31, 2022. For Benedict, the Vatican had to enactment retired the novelty of a ceremonial for the archetypal retired pope successful 600 years.

A fewer months later, Francis revealed helium was moving with the Vatican’s maestro of liturgical ceremonies, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, to overhaul the full publication of rites to simplify them.

In explaining the reforms, Ravelli said the changes aimed “to stress adjacent much that the Roman Pontiff’s ceremonial is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a almighty antheral of this world.”

The declaration of death

The 3 main stations, oregon moments, hap archetypal successful his home, past successful St. Peter’s Basilica, and past successful the spot of burial.

The betterment allows for the ceremonial confirmation of decease to hap successful Francis’ idiosyncratic chapel alternatively than his bedroom. It is unclear why, the alteration whitethorn beryllium much applicable than thing since Francis chose to unrecorded successful a tiny suite successful the Vatican’s Santa Marta hotel alternatively than the Apostolic Palace. He has a idiosyncratic chapel astatine Santa Marta.

Upon the pope’s death, the caput of the Vatican wellness work examines the body, ascertains the origin of decease and writes a report. The assemblage is dressed successful white.

The assemblage rests successful the pope’s idiosyncratic chapel for the ritual pronouncement of death, presided implicit by the camerlengo, the Vatican authoritative who runs the Holy See medication betwixt the decease oregon resignation of 1 pope and the predetermination of another. The camerlengo is American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, 1 of Francis’ astir trusted aides.

In a alteration from the past, the rite nary longer requires the assemblage to beryllium placed successful the accepted 3 coffins made of cypress, pb and oak. Now, the pope’s assemblage is placed successful a woody coffin, with a zinc coffin inside. The pope is dressed successful reddish liturgical vestments, his miter — the accepted headdress of bishops — and the pallium woolen stole, a benignant of scarf. The Pasqual candle, a large, decorated candle utilized astatine Easter, is placed nearby.

The camerlengo drafts the ceremonial declaration of death, attaching the certificate that had been prepared by the wellness work chief.

The maestro of liturgical celebrations, Ravelli, past decides erstwhile different faithful tin wage their respects earlier the coffin is moved to St. Peter’s Basilica for nationalist viewing.

Once successful the basilica

When the assemblage is brought into the basilica, the Litany of Saints chant is sung. The camerlengo leads the procession.

In different change, the pope’s assemblage is nary longer placed connected an elevated bier. Rather, the simplified woody coffin is placed facing the pews, with the Pasqual candle nearby.

The sealing of the coffin

The nighttime earlier the funeral, the camerlengo presides implicit the closing and sealing of the coffin, successful the beingness of different elder cardinals. A achromatic cloth is placed implicit the pope’s face.

A container containing coins minted during his papacy is placed successful the coffin on with a one-page written relationship of his papacy — known successful Italian arsenic a "rogito," a connection indicating an authoritative deed. It is work aloud by the maestro of liturgical ceremonies and past rolled up and slipped wrong a cylindrical conduit that is placed wrong the coffin. Another transcript is kept successful the Vatican archives. The covers of some the zinc coffin and the woody 1 carnivore a transverse and the papal overgarment of arms.

Francis’ coat of arms, which helium kept from erstwhile helium was bishop, features a shield and the monogram of his Jesuit order, with the words “Miserando atque eligendo,” Latin for “Having had mercy, helium called him.” It comes from an occurrence successful the Gospel wherever Christ picks a seemingly unworthy idiosyncratic to travel him.

The ceremonial and burial

The ceremonial is presided implicit by the dean of the College of Cardinals or, if that is not possible, by the vice dean oregon different elder cardinal. The existent dean is Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91. The vice dean is Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81. Francis earlier this twelvemonth extended some of their five-year presumption alternatively than name caller ones.

Francis’ betterment allows for burial extracurricular the Vatican, with the camerlengo presiding. Various seals are impressed connected the coffin, and it is placed wrong the tomb.

Francis has said helium wants to beryllium buried not successful St. Peter’s Basilica oregon its grottoes, wherever astir popes are buried, but successful the St. Mary Major Basilica crossed town. His prime reflects his veneration of an icon of the Virgin Mary that is located there, the Salus Populi Romani (Salvation of the radical of Rome).

After each overseas trip, Francis would spell to the basilica to commune earlier the Byzantine-style coating that features an representation of Mary, draped successful a bluish robe, holding the babe Jesus who successful crook holds a jeweled aureate book.

“It’s my large devotion,” Francis told Mexico’s N+ successful revealing his aboriginal burial plans. “The spot is already prepared.”

With the burial, the Catholic Church begins 9 days of authoritative mourning, known arsenic the “novemdiales” and the conclave begins.

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