What is the three-coffin burial of Popes? Will Pope Francis' funeral follow this ‘unique' tradition?
One of those unique traditions involves using three coffins for the Pope's burial to honor their legacy.
What is the three-coffin burial tradition?
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by Taboola
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When a Pope dies, the
Catholic Church
enters a period called sede vacante, which means "the seat is vacant." This time marks the transition between Popes and includes specific steps for the Pope's funeral, guided by the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis. According to the Catholic News Agency, the 2024 edition of the official liturgical book states that after a Pope's death, his body is examined and preserved for public viewing with great care and respect.
The Pope's body is dressed in a white cassock, symbolizing purity, and moved to the private papal chapel. The camerlengo, who is the chief cardinal, oversees a ceremony to confirm the Pope's death and place him in a coffin. The body is then dressed in red vestments, representing Christ's passion and blood, along with a mitre and pallium. It is placed in a zinc-lined coffin for visitation and prayer at the Vatican.
The body usually lies in state for three days. After that, there is a nine-day period of mourning known as Novendiales.
Historically, the burial of a Pope consisted of three nested coffins, each designed with specific materials, purposes, and meanings, as reported by Vatican News. The innermost coffin, made of cypress and representing humility, contains the Pope's body along with personal belongings. The middle coffin, constructed from lead, serves to preserve the body and secure vital documents. The outer coffin, built from elm or oak, provides durability, symbolizes strength, and pays tribute to the Pope's dignity.
As per the book, The Deaths of the Popes, papal historian Wendy J. Reardon mentioned that the tradition of using three coffins for a Pope's burial dated back to the 14th century, and continued through Pope Benedict XVI's funeral in 2023.
Will Pope Francis be buried in three coffins?
Despite it being a historic tradition, Pope Francis' funeral won't be following the three-coffin burial tradition.
In 2022,
Pope Francis
announced his wish to forego many of the traditional and elaborate funeral customs observed for previous Popes, and the Vatican revealed the changes in a new formal rite, which was published in November last year. In 2024, Pope Francis simplified funeral rites in the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, opting for a single zinc-lined wood coffin.
The 88-year-old pontiff will be buried in a single, zinc-lined wooden coffin, abandoning the centuries-old tradition of interlocking caskets made of cypress, lead, and oak. As Reuters reported, the decision reflected Francis' commitment to simplicity and his broader efforts to modernise church traditions.
Pope Francis' burial:
While most Popes are buried underneath St Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis decided in 2022 that he should be buried away from the Vatican, in the
Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica
in Rome.
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God, holds deep personal significance for Pope Francis. It is where he had traditionally prayed before and after his international journeys, as per reports.
Pope Francis' wish to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore makes him the first Pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
Pope's Funeral Date, Time Confirmed: Final Rites Begin In Vatican | WATCH
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