ROME — Pope Francis has made notable changes to the funeral rites that will be observed following his passing, highlighting his position as a humble bishop and permitting his burial outside of Vatican City, aligning with his personal wishes.
The Vatican’s official newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, has released particulars of the revised liturgical text, which Francis approved on April 29. This new edition replaces the one that was published in 2000.
As the Pope approaches his 88th birthday in December, he continues to engage actively in his papal duties, displaying a positive demeanor despite experiencing some health challenges. Recently, he led an energetic general audience that included an unexpected influx of children taking to the stage.
While it is common for popes to adjust the regulations governing the conclave that will appoint their successors, the necessity for a review of the papal funeral rites arose following the passing of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI on December 31, 2022.
The Vatican grappled with the arrangements for a retired pope’s funeral, prompting Francis to collaborate with Monsignor Diego Ravelli, the Vatican’s master of liturgical ceremonies, to streamline the funeral procedures. In a 2023 interview with a Mexican broadcaster, Francis disclosed his decision to be interred in the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome, as opposed to the traditional burial site within the grottoes of St. Peter’s Basilica, where many of his predecessors rest.
Ravelli explained to L’Osservatore Romano that the updated reforms simplify the funeral rites by eliminating the previously obligatory use of an elevated bier in St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing. Instead, he will be displayed in a plain coffin, and the customary three-coffin burial method consisting of cypress, lead, and oak will no longer be required.
The intention behind these modifications, Ravelli noted, is to underscore that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff reflects the life of a shepherd and disciple of Christ, rather than that of a powerful individual in this world.
