Pope Francis, who has avoided much of the pomp and privileges of leading the Catholic Church, has decided he wants to be buried in a simple wooden coffin when it comes time for his funeral.
In a new formal rite published this Wednesday (20), the Vatican said that Francis will renounce a centuries-old practice in which the Church leader is buried in three interconnected coffins made of cypress, lead and oak.
Instead, Francis will be buried in a single zinc-coated wooden coffin.
When he dies, he also will not be displayed on a raised platform in St. Peter’s Basilica for visitors to Rome, as has been the case with previous popes.
Visitors will still be invited to pay their respects, but Francisco’s body will remain inside the coffin, with the lid open.
Francisco, who will turn 88 on December 17, has suffered from occasional health problems in recent years but has appeared in good shape recently.
He now uses a wheelchair to get around because of knee and back pain, but undertook two demanding trips in September and hosted a major month-long summit of Catholic leaders at the Vatican in October.
The pope said last year that he wants to simplify funeral rites drawn up by his predecessors. Francis also announced that he will be the first pope buried outside the Vatican in more than a century.
Instead of being buried with 91 other deceased popes in St. Peter’s Basilica, he said he wants to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, dedicated to Mary, Mother of God.
Santa Maria is the church where Francisco traditionally attends to pray before and after each of his trips abroad.
The last pope buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII, who died in 1903 and is in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome.
Three coffins were traditionally used to bury popes to create an airtight seal around the deceased pontiff’s body. They also allow objects such as coins or documents issued by the pope during his reign to be buried with the body.
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This content was originally published in Pope Francis asks to be buried in a “simple” wooden coffin on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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