Pope Francis rejects tradition, opts for humble wooden casket and burial outside Vatican

Pope Francis has announced that helium volition forgo the traditional, elaborate burial rites of his predecessors successful a determination that whitethorn modernize the Catholic Church.

When the clip comes, the 87-year-old pontiff has chosen to beryllium laid to remainder successful a azygous woody casket lined with zinc, breaking from the centuries-old signifier of interring popes successful 3 interlocking caskets made of cypress, lead, and oak.

The Vatican made the announcement connected Wednesday, unveiling a caller ceremonial rite that reflects Francis’ imaginativeness of a much humble Church. Pope Francis approved a caller variation of the liturgical rites successful April this twelvemonth and received the archetypal transcript of the printed measurement connected Nov. 4.

The caller variation of the liturgical publication was presented pursuing its predecessor, the "editio typica" oregon "typical edition" of the "Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis" oregon "Order of Roman Pontifical Funerals."

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Pope Francis announced this week that helium was changing the ceremonial rites for the Vatican to beryllium much elemental and accessible. (Reuters, iStock)

The variation was approved successful 1998 by Saint John Paul II and published successful 2000. It was utilized successful Saint John Paul II's ceremonial rites successful 2005 and successful those of Pope Benedict XVI successful 2023 with immoderate adaptations.

"A 2nd variation became necessary," said Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies successful a release, "first of each due to the fact that Pope Francis has requested it, arsenic helium himself has stated connected several occasions of the request to simplify and accommodate definite rites truthful that the solemnisation of the ceremonial of the Bishop of Rome whitethorn amended expresses the faith of the Church successful the Risen Christ."

"The renewed rite besides needed to stress adjacent much that the ceremonial of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a almighty idiosyncratic of this world," added the Archbishop.

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Additionally, the pontiff volition go the archetypal pope successful much than a period to beryllium buried extracurricular the Vatican grounds. He has requested burial astatine Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, a religion helium often visits to commune earlier and aft his planetary trips.

The past pope to beryllium buried extracurricular the Vatican was Leo XIII successful 1903, who rests astatine Rome’s Basilica of St. John Lateran.

Pope Francis delivers his connection during a gathering with the authorities and the civilian nine successful the Grande Galerie of the Castle of Laeken, Brussels, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Francis’ determination to cull the accepted three-casket practice—which creates an airtight seal and accommodates objects specified arsenic coins oregon papal documents—is portion of his broader effort to simplify papal customs. 

The precocious pontiff’s assemblage volition besides not beryllium displayed connected a raised level successful St. Peter’s Basilica for nationalist viewing, arsenic has been customary. Instead, portion visitors volition inactive beryllium capable to wage their respects, his assemblage volition stay wrong the casket with the lid removed.

A kid kisses Pope Francis during the play wide assemblage successful Paul VI hallway astatine the Vatican, August 21, 2024.  (Reuters/Yara Nardi    )

The pope, who volition crook 88 adjacent month, has made nary concealed of his wellness challenges, including genu and backmost symptom that present necessitate him to usage a wheelchair. 

Despite wellness limitations, helium has maintained a engaged schedule, including 2 grueling planetary trips successful September and starring a important month-long Vatican summit successful October.

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Last year, Francis stated his tendency to simplify the intricate and lengthy ceremonial rites traditionally utilized for popes.

Reuters contributed to this report.