Pope Francis’ dying has set off a centuries-old orchestrated sequence of occasions to honor his life and legacy, although the funeral for the 266th bishop of Rome will doubtless differ drastically from these of his predecessors.
The beloved pontiff, who died Monday at 88 following a prolonged battle with double pneumonia, made adjustments to his funeral rites final 12 months that underscore his humility whereas ditching the standard pomp and circumstance.
Sometimes, papal funerals are held 4 to 6 days after the dying in St. Peter’s Sq., however Francis had mentioned that, not like his predecessors, he wouldn’t be laid to relaxation within the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica. As an alternative, he opted to be buried in Rome’s St. Mary Main Basilica.
He additionally selected a easy wood casket, a far cry from his predecessors who can be laid to relaxation in three interlocking caskets product of cypress, lead and oak.
The date of his funeral has not but been introduced.
The conclave to elect a brand new pope by secret poll begins within the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel between 15 and 20 days after the pope’s dying.
Cardinals want at the very least two-thirds plus one to elect the brand new pope, that means voting can take a number of days earlier than a brand new pontiff is chosen.
When Pope Francis turned pontiff: A timeline of his spiritual journey and profession
- Dec. 17, 1936: Jorge Mario Bergoglio is born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the eldest of 5 kids to Mario Jose Bergoglio, an accountant from Italy, and Regina María Sívori, the daughter of Italian immigrants.
- Dec. 13, 1969: Ordained a priest with the Jesuit spiritual order, which he would lead as Argentina provincial superior throughout the nation’s murderous dictatorship that started within the Nineteen Seventies.
- Might 20, 1992: Named auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires and in 1998 succeeds Cardinal Antonio Quarracino as archbishop of the Argentine capital.
- Feb. 21, 2001: Elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II.
- March 13, 2013: Elected 266th pope, the primary from the Americas, the primary Jesuit and the primary to take the identify Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi.
Learn extra concerning the lifetime of Pope Francis
Why is the Pope wearing purple when he’s buried?
Popes are historically buried in purple vestments as a result of it’s a liturgical shade that symbolizes a willingness to shed blood for the religion, in accordance with Nationwide Catholic Reporter.
What’s the Pope buried with?
After a pope dies, they’re historically buried with a number of gadgets, together with a rosary, a dying certificates and a bag of cash that have been minted throughout his reign. Pontiffs are additionally buried with the Fisherman’s Ring, the standard papal ring, which has traditionally been ceremonially smashed when cardinals meet to decide on a brand new pope. A authorized doc recording the pope’s life and work referred to as a rogito can be positioned into the coffin after being learn out loud.
The place will the Pope be buried?
Popes are historically laid to relaxation beneath St. Peter’s Basilica within the Vatican Grottoes. Nevertheless Pope Francis is breaking with custom and can as a substitute be buried within the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Main), which the pontiff had a “very sturdy” connection to, visiting it greater than 100 instances throughout his papacy.
How does Pope Francis’ coffin alternative differ from earlier Popes?
Popes historically have been buried in three coffins, one product of cypress, one other product of elm and one other product of lead. Nevertheless, earlier than his dying, Pope Francis requested he be laid to relaxation in a single zinc-lined wood coffin.
With Publish wires
