Pope Francis has opted to bury him in a wooden coffin when he is laid to rest – a revision to the centuries-old tradition of decorated farewells as he works to simplify papal rituals.
The 87-year-old pope – who turns 88 next month – imposed a new set of religious rituals aimed at modernizing the Catholic Church, ending the long, gaudy funeral practices observed by his predecessors upon their deaths. Is. Reuters reported.
When he died, Francis would now be immediately placed in a wooden coffin made of zinc, rather than three interlocking coffins made of cypress, lead and oak.
The earlier tradition involved placing the Pope’s body in an airtight coffin and allowing objects such as coins and papers issued by the Pope during his reign to be buried with him.
The open casket will be placed in St. Peter’s Basilica to honor mourners – following the tradition of the funeral of the Pope’s body, which will be displayed on a raised platform decorated with decorations, Reuters reports.
Francis chose to rest in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, a church he often visits during international trips, rather than as with his predecessors.
He will become the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in more than 100 years — a title held by Leo XIII, who was buried in the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome in 1903, Reuters reported.
Francis, who announced last year his desire to modify the complex and lengthy funeral rites, has been open about his health challenges, including knee and back pain that now requires him to use a wheelchair.
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