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Haley Ott is the International News themezone Digital reporter, based in the London Office of News themezone.

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Pope Francis as a model for the next leader

Will the Catholic Church look for Pope Francis as a model for the next leader? 03:50

Even before Saturday funeral for Pope Francis In the Vatican, the leader known as “The Pope of the People” has already broken with some traditions in the ways in which the pontiffs get built. Your body has been I lie in the state For three days in the Basilica of San Pedro, where the members of the public have been present to present their respects.

Unlike their predecessors, which were buried in three nested coffins, one made of cypress, one made of lead and one made of elmo, the famous and humble Francis chose to be buried in a simple wooden coffin.

This change occurred as part of recently updated Funeral planning For Pontiffs, published at the end of last year and approved by Francis.

Ordo Exsquiarum Romani Pontificis updated, as it is called in Latin, also says that the public can see the Pope’s body in an open coffin.

Pope Francis died - Vatican
People said goodbye to Pope Francis in his open coffin in the Basilica of San Pedro on his last day of lying in the state, on April 25, 2025. Christoph Reichwein / Picture Alliance through Getty Images

Another rest of tradition is his direction that the determination of the death of the Pope should take place in a chapel, not in his room.

“A second edition [of the official funeral rites for pontiffs] It became necessary, in the first place, because Pope Francis has requested it, as he himself has several occasions of the need to simplify and adapt certain rites so that the celebration of the funeral of the Bishop of Rome can express better to express himself [sic] The faith of the Church in the Risen Christ, “Archbishop Diego Ravelli, a master of apostolic ceremonies, said in a statement published by the Vatican at the time of the update.

Archbishop Ravelli also said: “The renewed rite also needed to emphasize even more than the funeral of the Roman pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”

The other great rest of papal funeral tradition It is the place where Francis has chosen to be buried.

In his Last will and testamentpublished shortly after his death, Francis requested that he be buried outside the Vatican, in the papal basilica of St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore, in Italian). He often visited that old church in Rome to pray before and after his trips.

Pope Francis
Pope Francis celebrates the Holy Mass in private on the altar of San Ignacio de Loyola in the Basilica of Santa MarĂ­a Maggiore in Rome, December 8, 2020. Grzegorz Galazka/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori Portfolio through Getty Images

Many potatoes rest within the Vatican, in the Vatican Grutas, a vault system at the lower level of the Basilica of San Pedro, but the Basilica says that seven potatoes over the centuries have been buried in St. Mary Major.

“I want my last earthly trip to end with precision in this former Sanctuary of Marian, where I went to pray at the beginning and end of each apostolic trip to confidence with confidence my intentions to the immaculate mother and thank her for her docile and maternal care,” Francisco said in his will.

“The grave must be on earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Francisco,” he specified. That is also a deviation from other potatoes whose tombs include an inscription in honor of their papacy.

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  • Pope Francis
  • Rome
  • Vatican City
  • Catholic church

Haley there

Haley Ott is the International News themezone Digital reporter, based in the London Office of News themezone.

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