Every detail in the images of Pope Francis lying motionless in his coffin tells a story, and there is much more to see than first glances.
By his own request, the late pope’s final resting display defies centuries of Vatican tradition, from the unconventional casket to the personal belongings arranged next to his body.
Pope Francis’s impending funeral will honor the principles he espoused throughout his life as the world says goodbye to him. The final resting place of Pope Francis, who is well-known for his simplicity, humility, and unwavering concern for the underprivileged, is a potent testament to the legacy he leaves behind.
Additionally, the personal belongings he decided to take with him will act as a last reminder of a life devoted to change, love, and service.
The adored 88-year-old pope died on Monday after suffering a fatal stroke that left him with irreversible heart failure. The spiritual leader was born in Argentina and passed away quietly at the Vatican after suffering from pneumonia for weeks.
What’s in the casket of the Pope?
The Vatican released the first striking pictures of Pope Francis in slumber on Tuesday. The pictures showed the sentimental objects that were given to him for his last trip.
As Vatican officials and members of his household gathered for a private and dignified farewell, his coffin stood silently under the watchful eyes of ceremonial guards.
Francis is seen in the publicly available images lying in an open coffin while wearing red vestments, which stand for Christ’s blood and martyrdom. He folds a rosary gently in his hands.
His crozier (the pastoral staff), his mitre (the traditional papal hat), and a variety of coins struck during his pontificate—a centuries-old custom signifying his tenure as the Vicar of Christ—are also placed inside the coffin.
A sealed legal document called a rogito, which summarizes his life and pontificate, is also found in the coffin. The broken Fisherman’s Ring, which is ceremoniously destroyed prior to burial to mark the end of a pope’s reign, is worn by the pope on his right hand.
Since the ring was initially intended to be a seal for the pope’s private correspondence, its destruction also ensures that it cannot be misused after the pope’s passing.
Examining the coffin
One only needs to look at Pope Francis’s coffin to understand how his passing represents a dramatic break from the long-standing customs of papal funerals.
Francis opted for simplicity in contrast to earlier popes, like the late Pope Benedict, who were interred in ornate triple coffins composed of cypress, lead, and oak.
His coffin is a simple zinc-lined wooden structure that reflects his dedication to modesty. Additionally, the customary papal farewell has been abandoned, which involved the Pope’s body being placed on a catafalque inside St. Peter’s Basilica for public mourning.
Francis’s remains will instead lie inside the coffin with the lid off, allowing mourners to pay their respects in a more private and intimate manner.
Additionally, a pope will be buried outside the Vatican for the first time in more than a century.
Instead of being buried in the grottoes beneath St. Peter’s, where the tombs of about 90 popes are situated, Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome’s Esquilino neighborhood.
What time and location is the funeral?
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis’ funeral will be held in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 AM local time.
Francis once stated that he wanted to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome’s Esquilino neighborhood, where his body will be taken following the public ceremony.
His remains will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica beginning on Wednesday. The solemn chant of the Litany of Saints, led by the camerlengo at the head of the procession, will fill the air as the body is carried into the basilica. The current camerlengo is Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, who was appointed by Pope Francis in 2019.
Pope Francis’ body will not be placed on an elevated bier, breaking with long-standing tradition. Rather, his plain wooden coffin is positioned at floor level, facing the pews, and the Paschal candle, a silent representation of light and faith, is nearby.
In the midst of the world’s ongoing grief over Pope Francis’ passing, the small, intimate details—from his modest wooden coffin to the simple ceremony—speak loudest.
He chose compassion, simplicity, and a departure from tradition in both life and death. And his legacy might be more defined by those decisions than by any elaborate procession.
