By Luis Andres Henao, Associated Press
New York (AP) – Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. His death sparked mourning through the Catholic world and the days of the Ritual in the Vatican. Here are the key elements, namely on the funeral of the first Latin American pontiff in the history of the church:
When and where does its funeral take place?
His funeral takes place on Saturday on Place Saint-Pierre. Francis will then be buried, according to his will: in a simple underground grave at the St. Mary Major basilica. The church houses his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary, to whom he was particularly devoted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tac9gqjrwgi
The sealing of the coffin
The day before the funeral, Camerlengo presided over the closure and sealing of the coffin, in the presence of other senior cardinals. A white cloth was placed on Francis’ face.
A bag containing parts struck during its papacy was placed in the coffin with a written account of a page of its papacy – known in Italian under the name of “Rogito”, a word indicating an official act. He was read aloud by the master of liturgical ceremonies, then rolled up and slipped inside a cylindrical tube placed inside the coffin. Another copy is kept in the Vatican archives. The blankets of the zinc and wood coffin wear a cross and the papal coat of arms of Francis.
Why not at the Vatican?
Francis said he wanted to be buried not in the Saint-Pierre basilica or his caves, where most of the popes are buried, but in the St. Mary Major basilica through the city. His choice reflects his veneration of an icon of the Virgin Mary who is there, the salus populi Romani (salvation of the people of Rome).
Before and after each foreign trip, Francis went to the basilica to pray in front of the Byzantine style painting which presents an image of Mary, draped in a blue dress, holding the infant Jesus who in turn holds a golden book jewel.
Which dignitaries should attend?
Heads of state, including UKRADYMYR Ukrainian President Donald Trump President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron, are among those expected for funeral. Other dignitaries include: Prince William, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the president of the European Council António Costa.
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The sun rises through a statue while people start to sit on Saint-Pierre square, before the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican, Saturday April 26, 2025. (AP photo / Markus Schreiber)
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The sun rises through a statue while people start to sit on Saint-Pierre square, before the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican, Saturday April 26, 2025. (AP photo / Markus Schreiber)
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How long was the pope served?
Pope Francis had a 12 -year papacy during which he charmed the world with his humility and his concern for the poor. But the pope born in Argentina also alienated the conservatives with criticism of capitalism and climate change.
So how do they choose a new pope?
The death of a pope begins a secular ritual to elect a new one, involving sacred oaths by the cardinals, drilling the ballots with a needle and a thread after their count, then burn them to produce white or black smoke to point out whether there is a new leader for the 1.4 billion Catholics in the world.
With the burial, the Catholic church begins nine days of official mourning, known as “November”. The date of the conclave to elect a new pope has not yet been announced.
In the conclave, the cardinals will vote in secret sessions and the ballots will be burned in a special stove after each session. Black smoke indicates that no pope was elected; White Smoke says that the cardinals have chosen the next head of the Catholic church.
Any Catholic man baptized is eligible, although only the cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two thirds of the votes of cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to participate.
Francis has named the vast majority of voters, often typing men who share his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity rather than rupture.
If it is impossible to predict who will be the next pope, some cardinals are considered to have better chances than others.
Is it like the film?
Yes and no. “Conclave” The film 2024, introduced many lay people to the ancient selection process with its arcanic rules and its great ceremony, although with a silver torsion in silver filled with intrigue and surprise of the palace.
Vatican experts say that the film excels in recreating the appearance of a conclave. But there are differences, errors and bizarre scenarios in the Hollywood version. And while the voting process was accurately represented, the ballots are not burned after each vote, but after each session.
Francis’ inheritance
Francis was known for his personal simplicity, of the choice of his name Francis in honor of Saint-François d’Assise, who gave up wealth to help the poor, the external symbols and the priorities of his papacy.
He chose to live in the Domus Santa Marta hotel in the Vatican instead of the apostolic palace and wore his old orthopating shoes and not the red moccasins of the papacy.
In his lessons, he focused on the concern of refugees and other marginalized people. His first trip outside of Rome as a pope in 2013 was on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa to meet newly arrived migrants. His advocacy for the reception has disagreed him with American and European policies.
He also reported a more welcoming position towards LGBTQ +people, while fighting climate change a priority. Francis became the first pope to use scientific data in a major teaching document and paid attention to the creation of God a characteristic of his papacy.
He avoided the grandiose even in his departure, lying in condition in a simple wooden coffin.
The coverage of the Associated Press Religion receives support thanks to the collaboration of the AP with the conversation in the United States, with the financing of Lilly Endowment Inc. AP is solely responsible for this content.
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
