Pope Francis had expressed his desire to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a church of the fifth century in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The 88 -year -old pontiff was well aware of his fragile state and advanced age. Already in 2015, Pope Francis had expressed his desire to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a church of the fifth century in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was so devoted to Mary and his Basilica that, after each of her more than 100 trips abroad, he visited her after returning to Rome to pray and meditate.
No pope was buried in Santa Maria Maggiore since the seventeenth century, when Pope Clement IX was buried there.
I am an expert in Catholic liturgical history. In previous centuries, papal funerals were elaborate events, ceremonies consistent with a Renaissance prince or other real person. But in recent years, the rites have been simplified. As Pope Francis determined, here are the passages that the ritual will follow.
First station: body preparation
Funeral rites occur in three parts, called stations. The first occurs in the Pope’s private chapel after medical professionals certified his death. Until recently, this step occurred near the Pope’s bed.
After the body rests on the chapel, the cardinal who acts as a Pope’s Coat – the chief of the Pope’s staff – prepares for the funeral. He also has the task of managing the Vatican until a new pope is elected. The current Camerlengo is Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, appointed by Francisco in 2019.
As has been done for centuries, Camerlengo will formally call the deceased Pope with the full name that was given to him when he was baptized as a child: Jorge Mario Bergoglio. There are narratives or legends that claim that at this moment the Pope has also been beaten three times on the forehead with a small silver hammer. However, there is no documented proof that this has actually been done in previous centuries to verify the death of a pope.
Traditionally, another old ritual is also made after the Pope’s declaration of death: the disfigure of the pope’s ring. Each Pope uses a tailor -made ring with a recorded image of a man who fishing on a boat, referring to the Gospel of Matteo, where Jesus calls St. Peter “Fisherman”. This ring of fisherman, with the name of the current pope recorded on the image, could act as seal in the official documents. The Camerlengo will break the Francisco ring and clear the seal with a hammer or another tool to prevent anyone from using.
The Pope’s apartments will also be blocked, without anyone being able to enter; Traditionally, this was done to avoid looting.
Second station: see the body
The deceased Pope will be dressed with his simple white passengers and red dresses and then put in a simple wooden coffin. It will be brought to procession to the Basilica of San Pietro, where public wake will take place in the next three days.
The Pope’s body will remain in the simple and open coffin during this period of trail in order to emphasize the pope’s humble role as a shepherd and not as head of state. The previous practice was to put the body on a high and high catafalco call platform; This ended with the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI in 2022.
Pope Benedict XVI was also the last pope who was buried in the traditional three cases of cypress, lead and olm. Two coffins contained specific documents on their pontificate; The first coffin also contained the traditional three bags of coins – gold, silver and copper – which represented every year of its pontificate.
In Francisco’s funeral, after the public wake, a simple white cloth will be positioned on the Pope’s face while losing the oak coffin, a constant part of the papal funeral. But this will be the first time that only one coffin will be used; It will probably also contain a document that describes his pontificate and a bag of coins of his pontificate.
The funeral mass will be celebrated in the Basilica of San Pietro, probably inside due to the atmosphere of the late winter, and there will probably be a crowd of faithful outside, gathered in the square. The homily will reflect on the life and spirituality of the deceased Pope; Francisco himself preached in the funeral of his retired predecessor, Pope Benedict. And the future Pope Benedict, like Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, preached in the funeral of Pope San John Paul II when Ratzinger was the leader, or the dean, of all the senior authorities of the church – which is known as the College of Cardinals.
The current dean is Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, and it is not clear if this tradition can continue due to his advanced age. The masses will continue to be prayed to Francisco in memory for nine days after his death – a period called Novelis. This ritual was inspired by an ancient Roman tradition that prescribes a period of mourning that ends in the ninth day after a death.
Third station: burial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtup8fxh2u4
Why do Pope Francis want to be buried in Santa Maria Maior and not in the Vatican?
In the past, the Popes were buried in different places. Until the legalization of Christianity in the Roman Empire at the beginning of the fourth century, the Popes were buried in the catacombs, the cemeteries around Rome.
Subsequently, the Popes could be buried in many different places, such as the Basilica of San Giovanni Laterano – the official cathedral of Rome – or other churches of Rome and surroundings. Some were even buried in France during the fourteenth century, when the papacy moved to the French border for political reasons.
Most of the popes are buried in the caves under the Basilica of San Pietro and, from the burial of Pope Leo XIII to San Giovanni di Latron in 1903, all the Popes were buried in the Basilica of San Pietro. According to Francisco’s wishes, however, there will probably be a procession for Rome in Santa Maria Maggiore, including the funeral car and the cars that lead other people who will participate in this private ritual.
Funeral of Pope John 23, in 1963.
Reg Lancaster/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
After some final prayers and the sprinkling of the water that spray, the coffin will be placed in its last place inside the church. Only later will the area open to the public for prayers and veneration.
After so many trips from Rome to visit Catholic communities in countries around the world and so many visits to this basilica for prayers and meditation, it seems appropriate that, at the end of the journey of his life, Francis will make one last trip in the church that he loved so much that they were buried forever.
Joanne M. Pierce does not consult, works, has actions or receives funding from any company or organization that can benefit from the publication of this article and has not revealed any relevant bonds beyond its academic position.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
