Death of Pope Francis: What to know about his funeral and burial

VATICAN CITY - The death of Pope Francis now sets off a series of carefully orchestrated rites and rituals, including the certification of death and public display of his body for the faithful to pay their respects – followed by his funeral and burial.

Francis died on Easter Monday at age 88. He revised various rites last year, simplifying the funeral rituals to emphasize his role as a mere bishop and allowing for burial outside the Vatican in keeping with his wishes, according to the Associated Press. 

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However, the main elements remain, including the three key moments that must be observed between the death of a pope and his burial.

Here’s what to know about the events to take place after Francis’ death: 

Pope Francis: The declaration of death

Timeline:

The three main moments happen first in his home, then in St. Peter’s Basilica, and then in the place of burial.

The formal confirmation of his death occurred in Francis’ personal chapel rather than his bedroom. Upon the pope’s death, the head of the Vatican health service examines the body, ascertains the cause of death and writes a report. The body is dressed in white.

The body rests in the pope’s personal chapel for the ritual pronouncement of death, presided over by the camerlengo, the Vatican official who runs the Holy See administration between the death or resignation of one pope and the election of another. The camerlengo is American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, one of Francis’ most trusted aides.

In a change from the past, the rite no longer requires the body to be placed in the traditional three coffins made of cypress, lead and oak. Now, the pope’s body is placed in a wooden coffin, with a zinc coffin inside. 

The pope is dressed in red liturgical vestments, his miter — the traditional headdress of bishops — and the pallium woolen stole, a kind of scarf. The Pasqual candle, a large, decorated candle used at Easter, is placed nearby.

The camerlengo drafts the formal declaration of death, attaching the certificate that had been prepared by the health service chief.

The master of liturgical celebrations, Ravelli, then decides when other faithful can pay their respects before the coffin is moved to St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.

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Once in the basilica, what happens?

What's next:

When the body of Pope Francis is brought into the basilica, the Litany of Saints chant is sung. The camerlengo leads the procession.

In another change, the pope’s body is no longer placed on an elevated bier. Rather, the simplified wooden coffin is placed facing the pews, with the Pasqual candle nearby.

The sealing of the coffin

Dig deeper:

The night before the funeral, the camerlengo presides over the closing and sealing of the coffin in the presence of other senior cardinals. A white cloth is placed over the pope’s face.

A bag containing coins minted during his papacy is placed in the coffin along with a one-page written account of his papacy — known in Italian as a "rogito," a word indicating an official deed. It is read aloud by the master of liturgical ceremonies and then rolled up and slipped inside a cylindrical tube that is placed inside the coffin. Another copy is kept in the Vatican archives. The covers of both the zinc coffin and the wooden one bear a cross and the papal coat of arms.

Francis’ coat of arms, which he kept from when he was bishop, features a shield and the monogram of his Jesuit order, with the words "Miserando atque eligendo," Latin for "Having had mercy, he called him." It comes from an episode in the Gospel where Christ picks a seemingly unworthy person to follow him.

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Pope Francis’ funeral and burial

What we know:

The pope's funeral is presided over by the dean of the College of Cardinals or, if that is not possible, by the vice dean or another senior cardinal. The current dean is Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91. The vice dean is Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81. 

Earlier this year, Francis extended both of their five-year terms rather than appoint new ones.

Francis’ reform allows for burial outside the Vatican, with the camerlengo presiding. Various seals are impressed on the coffin, and it is placed inside the tomb.

Francis has said he wants to be buried not in St. Peter’s Basilica or its grottoes, where most popes are buried, but in the St. Mary Major Basilica across town. His choice reflects his veneration of an icon of the Virgin Mary that is located there, the Salus Populi Romani (or, Salvation of the people of Rome).

The backstory:

After every foreign trip, Francis would go to the basilica to pray before the Byzantine-style painting that features an image of Mary, draped in a blue robe, holding the infant Jesus, who in turn holds a jeweled golden book.

"It’s my great devotion," Francis told Mexico’s N+ in revealing his future burial plans. "The place is already prepared."

What's next:

With the burial, the Catholic Church begins nine days of official mourning, known as the "novemdiales" and the conclave to elect a new pope begins.

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