The passing of a pope initiates a meticulously planned sequence of rites and rituals that take place before the conclave convenes to elect a new pontiff. These traditions encompass the official confirmation of the pope’s death, the public display of his body for mourners, and the subsequent funeral and burial. Following Pope Francis’s death on Monday, the rituals have been simplified based on the revisions he made last year. He sought to emphasize his role as a humble bishop and expressed a desire for burial outside the Vatican.
The adjustments to these ceremonies are detailed in the “Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis,” which translates to “Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs.” These reforms were considered necessary due to Pope Francis’s expressed wishes and coincided with the unique situation of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI’s funeral, marking the first such event for a retired pope in 600 years. Earlier this year, Francis collaborated with Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Vatican’s master of liturgical ceremonies, to update the entire book of rites for simplification.
The reforms aim to highlight the funeral as that of a pastor and disciple of Christ rather than a worldly leader. This new approach includes three significant phases: the declaration of death, the public viewing, and the final burial. Initially, the confirmation of the pope’s death now occurs in his personal chapel, a practical adjustment since Pope Francis resided in a small suite at the Vatican’s Santa Marta hotel, which includes a private chapel.
Upon the pope’s death, the head of the Vatican health service examines the body, determines the cause of death, and documents the findings. The body is then dressed in white and moved to the personal chapel for the ritual pronouncement of death, led by the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell. A notable change is the simplification of the coffin from the traditional three coffins made of cypress, lead, and oak, to a wooden coffin with a zinc lining. The pope is adorned in red liturgical vestments, along with the miter and the pallium. The Paschal candle, a decorated candle used at Easter, is positioned nearby.
The camerlengo then drafts the formal declaration of death, incorporating the certificate issued by the health service. The timing for public viewing at St. Peter’s Basilica is determined by Ravelli. As the body is moved into the basilica, the Litany of Saints is chanted, led by the camerlengo. A change from the past is the elimination of the elevated bier; instead, the coffin is placed facing the pews with the Paschal candle nearby.
The night before the funeral, the camerlengo oversees the sealing of the coffin in the presence of senior cardinals. A white cloth covers the pope’s face, and a bag containing coins minted during his papacy is added to the coffin, along with a one-page account of his papacy. This document, known as a “rogito,” is read aloud and placed inside a cylindrical tube within the coffin. Another copy is stored in the Vatican archives. The coffins bear a cross and the papal coat of arms, featuring the Jesuit monogram and the Latin phrase “Miserando atque eligendo.”
The funeral service is presided over by the dean of the College of Cardinals, currently Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, or by the vice dean if necessary. Francis’s reforms permit burial outside the Vatican, overseen by the camerlengo. The pope had expressed a wish to be buried in the St. Mary Major Basilica, honoring his devotion to the Salus Populi Romani icon of the Virgin Mary. Following the burial, the Catholic Church observes nine days of official mourning, known as the “novemdiales,” before commencing the conclave to elect the next pope.
