Pope Francis funeral ritual will take place in 3 parts. This is what will happen.

Joan M. Pierce He is an Emerita professor of religious studies in The Faculty of the Holy Cross.

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The 88 -year -old was well aware of his fragile condition and his advanced age. Early in 2015, Pope Francis king Express desire To be buried in Basilica Santa Maria MaglorA church in the fifth century in Rome dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary. He was so dedicated to Mary and Bashilica, to the point that after every trip of more than 100 trips abroad, he was visiting her after returning to Rome to pray and meditate.

No door has been buried In Santa Maria Mager since the seventeenth century, Matthew The ninth Pope Clement was placed to rest there.

I Catholic liturgy specialist. In the previous centuries, the papal funerals were complex affairs, as the celebrations were worthy of the Renaissance Prince or any other royal figure. But in recent years, The rituals have been simplified. As Pope Francis said, here are the steps that the rituals will follow.

The first station: Preparing the body

The funeral ritual takes place in three parts, called stations. The first occurs in the Pope’s private chapel, after the adoption of medical professionals His death. Until recently, this stage happened in the Pope’s bed.

After the body lies in the rest in the church, Cardinal Like the Pope Camelingo – The Pope’s Chief of Staff will deliver the funeral arrangements. It was also assigned to operate the Vatican until a The new Pope was elected. The current CameLENGO is Cardinal Kevin Joseph FarrellFrancis appointed him in 2019.

As was done for centuries, CameRENGO will officially call the died Pope with the full name that he gave to him when he was baptized as a baby – Jorge Mario Bergolio. There are novels or myths indicating that at this time, the Pope was exploited three times on the front with a Silver hammer. However, there is no documented evidence that this has already been done in the previous centuries to verify the death of the Pope.

Traditionally, another ancient rituals will occur after the anniversary of the death of the Pope: Distributing the Pope’s episode. Each Baba wears a specially made with an engraved image of a man hunting from a boat, and returns to the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus releases St. Peter “A”Ferash menThis hunter ring, in the name of The current Pope is engraved on the imageIt can serve as a seal on official documents. Camerlengo will break the Francis loop and break the seal with a hammer or other tool to prevent anyone else from using it.

The Pope’s apartments will also be lock No one is allowed to enter; Traditionally, this was done to prevent looting.

The second station: the body’s width

The deceased Pope in Kasuk will wear a simple white and its own red, then put in a Simple wooden coffin. This will be implemented in a procession to the Church of St. Peter, where the general viewing of the next three days will take place.

The Pope’s body will be left in the open coffin, during this viewing period in order to emphasize the role of the humble Pope as a measure, Not the head of state. The previous practice was to place the body on the head of a long high platform, It is called Catafalque; This ended with the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI in 2022.

Pope Benedict was also the last Pope to be buried in the traditional Three corsets of cypress, bullets, and Dardar. Two coffins contained specific documents about Pontificate. The first coffin holding The three traditional bags of coins – Gold, silver and copper – they represent Every year of Pontificate.

At Francis’s funeral, after general viewing, a simple white cloth will be placed on the face of the Pope and lies in the coffin of oak, which is a continuous part of the papal funerals. But this will be the first time that a One coffin will be used; It is likely that it has a describing document A bag of metal currencies from Pontvot also.

After that, the funeral mass will be celebrated in Saint Peter, probably inside due to the weather in late winter, and there is likely to be a crowd of believers abroad, assembled in the square. The sermon will be reflected in the life of the deceased Pope and spirituality. Francis Preach At the funeral of his retired predecessor, Pope Benedict. And the Pope Benedict in the future, as the Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was human At the funeral of Pope Saint John Paul II When Ratzinger was the leader, or the dean, from all church officials – what is known as the Cardinacle College.

The current dean is 91 years old Cardinal Giovanni Batista RiAnd it is not clear whether he will be able to continue this tradition because of his advanced age. The statement will continue in the memory of Francis for nine days after his death – a period Novendalis called. These rituals were inspired by an ancient Roman tradition describing the mourning period It ends on the ninth day After death.

Third station: burial

Popes have been buried in the past in several different places. Even the legalization of Christianity in the Roman Empire in the early fourth century, will be the popes It interferes with the dead basements, burial lands on the suburbs From Rome.

Next, the popes can be buried in a number of different sites, such as Saint John Latan – the official cathedral of Rome – or other churches in Rome and around. A few Even burial in France During the fourteenth century, when the papacy moved to the French border for political reasons.

Most of the popes have been buried in the caves below St. Peter, and since then Pope Liu XIII He was buried in St. John Latan in 1903, every door was buried in St. Boutros. According to Francis’s desires, there is likely to be a procession throughout Rome to Santa Maria Magor, including Hersi and cars that carry others who will attend these special rituals.

After a few final prayer and the sacred water spray, the coffin will be placed in its final location inside the church. Only later the area will be opened to the public for prayers and reverence.

After many trips from Rome to visit the Catholic societies in countries around the world, and many visits to this basilica for prayer and meditation, it seems appropriate that at the end of his life journey, Francis makes a last trip to the church that he loved so much to be placed forever.

This article has been republished from Conversation Under the creative public license.