Latest news with #OrdoExsequiarumRomaniPontificis'
Irish Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Pope Francis funeral: Start time, how to watch, attendees and burial details
Pope Francis's funeral is set to reflect the tenets of his papacy by breaking away from traditions and choosing sobriety over pomp. Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, with his funeral due to take place on Saturday morning at St Peter's Square in Rome at 10am local time (9am Irish time). It will be streamed live on the Vatican's YouTube channel. Tens of thousands of people have already made their way into St Peter's Basilica, where the late pontiff is to lie in state for several days ahead of the funeral. But where his predecessors St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI lied upon an elevated bier, Francis's body rests inside a simple coffin barely raised from the floor of the basilica. This change is one of several Francis introduced in November 2024 following a revision of the 'Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis' – the 'Funeral Rites of the Roman Pontiff' – with the view to simplifying the ceremonies. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of pontifical liturgical ceremonies, had then told Vatican News the simplification of the rites was 'to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world'. When a pope dies, the official verification of his death by the camerlengo – the prelate who runs the Vatican between a pope's death and the election of his successor – would traditionally take place at the location where he died. Francis's revision of the funeral rites scrapped this requirement, asking that the certification of death be carried out inside the late pontiff's private chapel instead. In Francis's case, this rite was carried out in the chapel of the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta where he lived – having declined to move into the papal apartments at the Apostolic Palace following his election in 2013. The new rites then ask that the late pontiff be placed directly into a simple, open wooden coffin lined with zinc, where previous traditions saw a pope entombed in three different coffins – one of cypress wood, one of lead and one of oak. Previously, the pope's body would also be placed inside the three coffins only after its lying-in-state at St Peter's Basilica. The funeral rites are traditionally divided into three stations: the home of the deceased pope, the Vatican basilica and the burial place. With Pope Francis having requested the first station be a chapel instead – though it did form part of his 'home' at the Casa Santa Marta residence – his body was then transferred directly to St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning. The coffin did not pass through the Apostolic Palace for another exposition, as was done previously for John Paul II, and was not displayed on an elevated bier – the so-called 'Canaletto' or 'death bed' – as happened with both John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Francis lay in public view for three days until Friday evening, when his coffin was sealed in the presence of several cardinals and officials from the Holy See – the central governing body of the Catholic Church and the Vatican. The funeral mass will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the college of cardinals, and concelebrated by patriarchs and cardinals wearing their white damask mitre. Archbishops and bishops of the Catholic Church have also been invited to join wearing liturgical vestments, which they will put on in St Peter's Square, according to the Holy See. President of Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris will be in attendance at the funeral. The Prince of Wales will attend on behalf of the King, while UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, will attend as part of the UK delegation. US President Donald Trump has said he will be there with his wife Melania. While a requiem mass is usually a standard length of around an hour, the number of people expected to attend, including those wishing to receive Holy Communion, means the service is likely to run closer to 90 minutes, according to Joe Ronan from the Catholic Voices media charity. According to the traditional rites, and unless a pope has chosen otherwise, his remains are to be moved after the funeral mass to the grotto of St Peter's Basilica for burial. But the 2024 revision also decreed a pope can be buried outside of the Vatican if he so wishes. Pope Francis left instructions in which he asked to be buried in a simple underground tomb in Rome's papal basilica of Saint Mary Major. This makes Francis the first pontiff in more than a century not to be buried at St Peter's Basilica as the last pope who asked to be buried outside of the Vatican was Pope Leo XIII, who died in 1903. In his will, Francis wrote: 'I have always entrusted my life and priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy. 'Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest, awaiting the day of resurrection, in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. 'I wish that my final earthly journey conclude precisely in this ancient Marian shrine, where I go to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey… 'I ask that my tomb be prepared in the burial niche in the side nave between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica, as indicated in the enclosed plan. 'The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, and bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.' A 'group of poor and needy people' will be present on the steps leading to Saint Mary Major to pay their last respects to Francis before he is entombed, the Holy See said on Thursday. The funeral on Saturday will mark the first day of nine memorial masses called 'the novendiali' for the nine days during which they will take place. The final day of the novendiali will be on Sunday May 4. The secret meeting of cardinals, known as the conclave, is expected to begin between 15 and 20 days after the pope's death.
Irish Examiner
24-04-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
How will Pope Francis's funeral differ from those held for predecessors?
Pope Francis's funeral is set to reflect the tenets of his papacy by breaking away from traditions and choosing sobriety over pomp. Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, with his funeral due to take place on Saturday morning at St Peter's Square in Rome. More than 50,000 people have so far made their way into St Peter's Basilica where the late pontiff is to lie in state for several days ahead of the funeral. But where his predecessors St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI lied upon an elevated bier, Francis's body rests inside a simple coffin barely raised from the floor of the basilica. Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, lying in a wooden coffin dressed in red, with rosary beads draped across his hands (Vatican Media) This change is one of several Francis introduced in November 2024 following a revision of the 'Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis' – the 'Funeral Rites of the Roman Pontiff' – with the view to simplifying the ceremonies. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of pontifical liturgical ceremonies, had then told Vatican News the simplification of the rites was 'to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world'. – Certification of death When a pope dies, the official verification of his death by the camerlengo – the prelate who runs the Vatican between a pope's death and the election of his successor – would traditionally take place at the location where he died. Francis's revision of the funeral rites scrapped this requirement, asking that the certification of death be carried out inside the late pontiff's private chapel instead. In Francis's case, this rite was carried out in the chapel of the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta where he lived – having declined to move into the papal apartments at the Apostolic Palace following his election in 2013. People queue to pay their respects to Pope Francis at the Vatican (Gregorio Borgia/AP) The new rites then ask that the late pontiff be placed directly into a simple, open wooden coffin lined with zinc, where previous traditions saw a pope entombed in three different coffins – one of cypress wood, one of lead and one of oak. Previously, the pope's body would also be placed inside the three coffins only after its lying-in-state at St Peter's Basilica. – Funeral The funeral rites are traditionally divided into three stations: the home of the deceased pope, the Vatican basilica, and the burial place. With Pope Francis having requested the first station be a chapel instead – though it did form part of his 'home' at the Casa Santa Marta residence – his body was then transferred directly to St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning. The coffin did not pass through the Apostolic Palace for another exposition, as was done previously for John Paul II, and was not displayed on an elevated bier – the so-called 'Canaletto' or 'death bed' – as happened with both John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Francis will lie in public view for three days until Friday evening, when his coffin will be sealed in the presence of several cardinals and officials from the Holy See – the central governing body of the Catholic Church and the Vatican. The funeral mass will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the college of cardinals, and concelebrated by patriarchs and cardinals wearing their white damask mitre. Archbishops and bishops of the Catholic Church have also been invited to join wearing liturgical vestments, which they will put on in St Peter's Square, according to the Holy See. President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris will be there, and US President Donald Trump will also attend. Britain's Prince William will attend on behalf of his father, King Charles, while British prime minister Keir Starmer and Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, will attend as part of the UK delegation. While a requiem mass is usually a standard length of around an hour, the number of people expected to attend, including those wishing to receive Holy Communion, means the service is likely to run closer to 90 minutes, according to Joe Ronan from the Catholic Voices media charity. A nun prays in Westminster Cathedral following the announcement by the Vatican of the death of Pope Francis (PA/James Manning) – Burial According to the traditional rites, and unless a pope has chosen otherwise, his remains are to be moved after the funeral mass to the grotto of St Peter's Basilica for burial. But the 2024 revision also decreed a pope can be buried outside of the Vatican if he so wishes. Pope Francis left instructions in which he asked to be buried in a simple underground tomb in Rome's papal basilica of Saint Mary Major. This makes Francis the first pontiff in more than a century not to be buried at St Peter's Basilica as the last pope who asked to be buried outside of the Vatican was Pope Leo XIII, who died in 1903. In his will, Francis wrote: 'I have always entrusted my life and priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy. 'Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest, awaiting the day of resurrection, in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. 'I wish that my final earthly journey conclude precisely in this ancient Marian shrine, where I go to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey… 'I ask that my tomb be prepared in the burial niche in the side nave between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica, as indicated in the enclosed plan. People line up to enter St Peter's Basilica to pay their respects to Pope Francis (Emilio Morenatti/AP) 'The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, and bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.' A 'group of poor and needy people' will be present on the steps leading to Saint Mary Major to pay their last respects to Francis before he is entombed, the Holy See said on Thursday. The funeral on Saturday will mark the first day of nine memorial masses called 'the novendiali' for the nine days during which they will take place. The final day of the novendiali will be on Sunday May 4. The secret meeting of cardinals, known as the conclave, is expected to begin between 15 and 20 days after the pope's death.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How to visit Rome for Pope Francis' funeral
The faithful will be flocking to Rome to honor the death of Pope Francis, who died on April 21, with his funeral scheduled for Saturday April 26 at 10 a.m.. Given his relatively liberal policies and habit of phoning up members of the public for a chat, it's possible that many non-Catholics will want to pay their respects, in addition to the nearly 1.4 billion Catholics around the world. Foreign visitor numbers in Italy are already reaching all-time highs — and Rome is even fuller than usual this year because of the Vatican Jubilee, which will see an estimated more than 32 million pilgrims crowding in alongside regular visitors, who numbered 37.3 million last year. That means that making your way to pay your respects may be difficult. 'We will see a huge media presence, much more than for Pope Benedict, since Francis is a current pope,' Mountain Butorac, who leads pilgrimages to Rome and tours of the Vatican as The Catholic Traveler, told CNN prior to the pope's death. However, he added that he believes the crowd numbers will be similar to those for Benedict's funeral: 'I don't expect numbers even close to [the funeral of] Pope John Paul II.' Around four million mourners flocked to Rome for the 2005 death of John Paul II. The conclave — the meeting of cardinals to elect a new pope, usually two or three weeks after the previous pontiff's death — will 'be a big draw for people to come to Rome,' said Butorac, adding that unlike in the case of Benedict, time-strapped mourners may have to choose between traveling to Rome for the funeral or the conclave. Pope Francis' funeral is scheduled for Saturday April 26 at 10 a.m. Before the funeral, there will be a period of lying in state. Francis' coffin was transferred from his papal residence at the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter's Basilica early on Wednesday, April 23. Following a ceremony inside the basilica, the public will be able to file past the coffin. The basilica will be open until midnight Wednesday, from 7 a.m. to midnight Thursday, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. At 8 p.m. there will be a ceremony for the closing of the coffin. The funeral, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, will take place in St. Peter's Square outside the basilica, and will be open to the public. Tickets are not required — but expect extremely long lines. There will be a final Commendation and Valediction, before Francis' coffin is taken inside St. Peter's Basilica for the remainder of the service. His body will then be taken to Rome's Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, just over two miles east of St. Peter's, for burial. The route has not yet been announced. The religious elements of a pope's funeral are laid out in the 'Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis' (Latin for 'Funeral Rites for the Roman Pontiff'). However, popes can still weigh in on plans, as Francis did when he approved an updated edition of the liturgical book in 2024. Francis wrote in his 2025 autobiography, 'Hope,' that the proposed funeral was 'excessive' and that he arranged to 'lighten' it. He also chose his burial place, and will be the first pope in over a century to be laid to rest outside the Vatican. He regularly worshiped at Santa Maria Maggiore, and last made a surprise visit there on April 12. Vatican rules stipulate that the pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day after his death. The funeral then officially triggers nine days of mourning known as the 'Novendiales,' which will see masses for Pope Francis held daily until May 4. During this period, cardinals from across the world will be arriving in Rome, ready for the conclave, the date for which has not yet been announced. 'Every cardinal has a titular church here, and so usually two days before the conclave begins, they will have a Mass at their church,' said Butorac. 'The day before the conclave, there is a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. This is also open to the public. All the cardinals will be there. After this, they head into the Sistine Chapel, not to be seen in public again until the election of the pope.' The conclave to elect the next pope can start no sooner than 15 days after the previous pope's death (which would be May 6), though the exact date will be determined by cardinals in the days ahead. During the conclave, while the cardinals are secreted away in the Sistine Chapel, crowds gather in St. Peter's Square to pray, hoping to be there when they see white smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel, meaning that a new pope has been afterwards, the newly elected pope will greet the crowds in the square from his balcony. You don't need a ticket to be in the square, but you will need to pass through security to access it, said Butorac. For those who wish to witness it, on day one of the conclave, there is just one vote, in the evening. On the following days, there are four votes: two in the morning, two in the late afternoon. Twice a day, until a pope has been elected, the ballots will be burned. Black smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel means no pope has been chosen. White means there is a new pope. The pattern of voting continues each day with a break every five days until a new Bishop of Rome is selected. Once that happens, the ballots are immediately burned to produce the white smoke. 'The times are usually public, so people know when to be in the square,' said Butorac. 'There are also no seats — so expect to stand for hours.' The voting can take hours, so be prepared to wait. Rome has two international airports. Fiumicino, around 17 miles (27 kilometers) southwest of the city center, is Italy's busiest airport and the hub for non-European southeast of the city, is much smaller and closer to central Rome. It currently serves budget airlines with intra-European routes as well as two destinations in Morocco. From Fiumicino, the Leonardo Express train departs every 15 minutes for Termini station in the city center. Alternatively, taxis charge a fixed rate of 55 euros ($58) to destinations within the city walls. Buses to Termini take 50 minutes and cost 9.90 euros ($10.40) return. From Ciampino, a taxi costs a fixed 40 euros ($42), or buses to Termini take 40 minutes and cost 9.90 euros. While flying into Rome is obviously direct, it's worth considering flying into other major Italian airports, too. Rome's Termini station is a hub on Italy's high-speed railway line, meaning Milan is just over three hours away, and Naples around an hour. Rome will be incredibly busy, so it makes sense to stay near St. Peter's — though be aware that hotels are already heavily booked throughout 2025 because of the Jubilee. Vatican City sits on the west side of the Tiber, across the river from the historical center of Rome. The rione (district) of Prati is right above it, and is your best bet, accommodation-wise. Campo Marzio, in the historic center, is just across the water — anywhere near Campo de' Fiori or Piazza Navona is also an easy walk to the Vatican. Not finding anything? The nearest metro stop to the Vatican is at Ottaviano. Stay anywhere around Piazza di Spagna (the Spanish Steps) or the cheaper areas around Piazza della Repubblica and Termini train station, and you'll be just a few minutes away by metro. While many hotels appear to have hiked room rates over the next few days, there are some with availability at more reasonable prices. Checking on Tuesday after the funeral and lying in state was announced, there were various two- and three-star hotels around Termini for around 500 euros ($574) for three nights from Wednesday to Saturday. This isn't the time to go all out with a five star — the luxury Bvlgari hotel, for example, which is within walking distance from the Vatican, was selling rooms for the same dates (three nights) for 8,310 euros ($9,539). If you're looking for just one night and the pickings are looking slim, it could work out as more affordable to stay longer. For example, Hotel Lancelot, a family-owned three-star near the Colosseum, has implemented a three-day minimum stay during the lying-in-state and funeral period; however, it has not raised its reasonable rates. A single room for three nights is 420 euros ($482) as of Tuesday. Vatican City is one of the most popular places to visit on a Rome trip, but this is a time when it shuts down its tourism operations and returns the buildings to what they were built for. The Sistine Chapel, for example, will hold the conclave, while St. Peter's will be used for the lying in state. The museums will also be closed on Saturday 26 April, and all tours of the Vatican Gardens and the Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis are suspended, according to a statement on the Musei Vaticani website. Instead, if you have time to sightsee, you'll need to leave Vatican City — but there are still plenty of sites with papal links in Rome. A 10-minute walk from St. Peter's Square is the colossal Castel Sant'Angelo, originally built as the mausoleum of the emperor Hadrian, and then used as a papal fortress. It was here that Pope Clement VII holed up during the Sack of Rome in 1527, eventually escaping the city. If you're here to pay respects to Francis, you'll probably want to spend some time in church. Luckily, Rome's basilicas are museums in their own right, so you'll be sightseeing as you go. Prime amongst them are the city's three other 'papal basilicas' — which rank just below St. Peter's for importance to the Catholic Church. San Giovanni in Laterano, Santa Maria Maggiore and San Paolo Fuori le Mura each have a 'porta santa' (holy door), and a papal altar. The latter, at the end of the increasingly trendy Via Ostiense, is said to be the resting place of the apostle St. Paul. Be aware that as the resting place of the pope, Santa Maria Maggiore will likely be subject to visiting restrictions around the date of the funeral. No information has been announced as of yet. If you want to mix in some Michelangelo, there are several options in lieu of St. Peter' formidable Moses statue in San Pietro in Vincoli, a church in Monti, is a match for the Pietà in St. Peter's — and in fact it was designed for the funerary monument of Pope Julius II, an ill-fated project that Michelangelo only completed after the death of Julius. The spectacular church of Santa Maria degli Angeli is a ruined Roman bath that Michelangelo redesigned as a church — while his Risen Christ statue stands in Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, the church behind the Pantheon. Two of the most spectacular papal sites are located outside the capital. Castel Gandolfo was the pope's summer residence from 1596 until Francis wound it down, preferring to live more simply. Since 2016, you can visit the Palazzo Apostolico, or Palazzo Papale (papal palace) — as well as its beautiful gardens with spectacular views over Lake Albano. It's currently open to the public daily (check the website for opening times) although it will be closed on Saturday 26 April as a sign of mourning. In Viterbo, around 100 minutes by train north of Rome, is the Palazzo dei Papi, or Palace of the Popes. From 1257 to 1281, the Curia was moved here from Rome, and a suitably grand papal palace was built for the occasion — which is open to visitors today. The city carried on being a favorite escape for popes even when they were based back in Rome — one 15th century pontiff even added a bathhouse to take full advantage of Viterbo's famous thermal waters.
CNN
23-04-2025
- Politics
- CNN
How to visit Rome for Pope Francis' funeral
The faithful will be flocking to Rome to honor the death of Pope Francis, who died on April 21, with his funeral scheduled for Saturday April 26 at 10 a.m.. Given his relatively liberal policies and habit of phoning up members of the public for a chat, it's possible that many non-Catholics will want to pay their respects, in addition to the nearly 1.4 billion Catholics around the world. Foreign visitor numbers in Italy are already reaching all-time highs — and Rome is even fuller than usual this year because of the Vatican Jubilee, which will see an estimated more than 32 million pilgrims crowding in alongside regular visitors, who numbered 37.3 million last year. That means that making your way to pay your respects may be difficult. 'We will see a huge media presence, much more than for Pope Benedict, since Francis is a current pope,' Mountain Butorac, who leads pilgrimages to Rome and tours of the Vatican as The Catholic Traveler, told CNN prior to the pope's death. However, he added that he believes the crowd numbers will be similar to those for Benedict's funeral: 'I don't expect numbers even close to [the funeral of] Pope John Paul II.' Around four million mourners flocked to Rome for the 2005 death of John Paul II. The conclave — the meeting of cardinals to elect a new pope, usually two or three weeks after the previous pontiff's death — will 'be a big draw for people to come to Rome,' said Butorac, adding that unlike in the case of Benedict, time-strapped mourners may have to choose between traveling to Rome for the funeral or the conclave. Pope Francis' funeral is scheduled for Saturday April 26 at 10 a.m. Before the funeral, there will be a period of lying in state. Francis' coffin was transferred from his papal residence at the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter's Basilica early on Wednesday, April 23. Following a ceremony inside the basilica, the public will be able to file past the coffin. The basilica will be open until midnight Wednesday, from 7 a.m. to midnight Thursday, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. At 8 p.m. there will be a ceremony for the closing of the coffin. The funeral, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, will take place in St. Peter's Square outside the basilica, and will be open to the public. Tickets are not required — but expect extremely long lines. There will be a final Commendation and Valediction, before Francis' coffin is taken inside St. Peter's Basilica for the remainder of the service. His body will then be taken to Rome's Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, just over two miles east of St. Peter's, for burial. The route has not yet been announced. The religious elements of a pope's funeral are laid out in the 'Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis' (Latin for 'Funeral Rites for the Roman Pontiff'). However, popes can still weigh in on plans, as Francis did when he approved an updated edition of the liturgical book in 2024. Francis wrote in his 2025 autobiography, 'Hope,' that the proposed funeral was 'excessive' and that he arranged to 'lighten' it. He also chose his burial place, and will be the first pope in over a century to be laid to rest outside the Vatican. He regularly worshiped at Santa Maria Maggiore, and last made a surprise visit there on April 12. Related live-story The latest on the death of Pope Francis Vatican rules stipulate that the pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day after his death. The funeral then officially triggers nine days of mourning known as the 'Novendiales,' which will see masses for Pope Francis held daily until May 4. During this period, cardinals from across the world will be arriving in Rome, ready for the conclave, the date for which has not yet been announced. 'Every cardinal has a titular church here, and so usually two days before the conclave begins, they will have a Mass at their church,' said Butorac. 'The day before the conclave, there is a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. This is also open to the public. All the cardinals will be there. After this, they head into the Sistine Chapel, not to be seen in public again until the election of the pope.' The conclave to elect the next pope can start no sooner than 15 days after the previous pope's death (which would be May 6), though the exact date will be determined by cardinals in the days ahead. During the conclave, while the cardinals are secreted away in the Sistine Chapel, crowds gather in St. Peter's Square to pray, hoping to be there when they see white smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel, meaning that a new pope has been afterwards, the newly elected pope will greet the crowds in the square from his balcony. You don't need a ticket to be in the square, but you will need to pass through security to access it, said Butorac. For those who wish to witness it, on day one of the conclave, there is just one vote, in the evening. On the following days, there are four votes: two in the morning, two in the late afternoon. Twice a day, until a pope has been elected, the ballots will be burned. Black smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel means no pope has been chosen. White means there is a new pope. The pattern of voting continues each day with a break every five days until a new Bishop of Rome is selected. Once that happens, the ballots are immediately burned to produce the white smoke. 'The times are usually public, so people know when to be in the square,' said Butorac. 'There are also no seats — so expect to stand for hours.' The voting can take hours, so be prepared to wait. Related video How is a new pope chosen? Rome has two international airports. Fiumicino, around 17 miles (27 kilometers) southwest of the city center, is Italy's busiest airport and the hub for non-European southeast of the city, is much smaller and closer to central Rome. It currently serves budget airlines with intra-European routes as well as two destinations in Morocco. From Fiumicino, the Leonardo Express train departs every 15 minutes for Termini station in the city center. Alternatively, taxis charge a fixed rate of 55 euros ($58) to destinations within the city walls. Buses to Termini take 50 minutes and cost 9.90 euros ($10.40) return. From Ciampino, a taxi costs a fixed 40 euros ($42), or buses to Termini take 40 minutes and cost 9.90 euros. While flying into Rome is obviously direct, it's worth considering flying into other major Italian airports, too. Rome's Termini station is a hub on Italy's high-speed railway line, meaning Milan is just over three hours away, and Naples around an hour. Rome will be incredibly busy, so it makes sense to stay near St. Peter's — though be aware that hotels are already heavily booked throughout 2025 because of the Jubilee. Vatican City sits on the west side of the Tiber, across the river from the historical center of Rome. The rione (district) of Prati is right above it, and is your best bet, accommodation-wise. Campo Marzio, in the historic center, is just across the water — anywhere near Campo de' Fiori or Piazza Navona is also an easy walk to the Vatican. Not finding anything? The nearest metro stop to the Vatican is at Ottaviano. Stay anywhere around Piazza di Spagna (the Spanish Steps) or the cheaper areas around Piazza della Repubblica and Termini train station, and you'll be just a few minutes away by metro. While many hotels appear to have hiked room rates over the next few days, there are some with availability at more reasonable prices. Checking on Tuesday after the funeral and lying in state was announced, there were various two- and three-star hotels around Termini for around 500 euros ($574) for three nights from Wednesday to Saturday. This isn't the time to go all out with a five star — the luxury Bvlgari hotel, for example, which is within walking distance from the Vatican, was selling rooms for the same dates (three nights) for 8,310 euros ($9,539). If you're looking for just one night and the pickings are looking slim, it could work out as more affordable to stay longer. For example, Hotel Lancelot, a family-owned three-star near the Colosseum, has implemented a three-day minimum stay during the lying-in-state and funeral period; however, it has not raised its reasonable rates. A single room for three nights is 420 euros ($482) as of Tuesday. Vatican City is one of the most popular places to visit on a Rome trip, but this is a time when it shuts down its tourism operations and returns the buildings to what they were built for. The Sistine Chapel, for example, will hold the conclave, while St. Peter's will be used for the lying in state. The museums will also be closed on Saturday 26 April, and all tours of the Vatican Gardens and the Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis are suspended, according to a statement on the Musei Vaticani website. Instead, if you have time to sightsee, you'll need to leave Vatican City — but there are still plenty of sites with papal links in Rome. A 10-minute walk from St. Peter's Square is the colossal Castel Sant'Angelo, originally built as the mausoleum of the emperor Hadrian, and then used as a papal fortress. It was here that Pope Clement VII holed up during the Sack of Rome in 1527, eventually escaping the city. If you're here to pay respects to Francis, you'll probably want to spend some time in church. Luckily, Rome's basilicas are museums in their own right, so you'll be sightseeing as you go. Prime amongst them are the city's three other 'papal basilicas' — which rank just below St. Peter's for importance to the Catholic Church. San Giovanni in Laterano, Santa Maria Maggiore and San Paolo Fuori le Mura each have a 'porta santa' (holy door), and a papal altar. The latter, at the end of the increasingly trendy Via Ostiense, is said to be the resting place of the apostle St. Paul. Be aware that as the resting place of the pope, Santa Maria Maggiore will likely be subject to visiting restrictions around the date of the funeral. No information has been announced as of yet. If you want to mix in some Michelangelo, there are several options in lieu of St. Peter' formidable Moses statue in San Pietro in Vincoli, a church in Monti, is a match for the Pietà in St. Peter's — and in fact it was designed for the funerary monument of Pope Julius II, an ill-fated project that Michelangelo only completed after the death of Julius. The spectacular church of Santa Maria degli Angeli is a ruined Roman bath that Michelangelo redesigned as a church — while his Risen Christ statue stands in Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, the church behind the Pantheon. Two of the most spectacular papal sites are located outside the capital. Castel Gandolfo was the pope's summer residence from 1596 until Francis wound it down, preferring to live more simply. Since 2016, you can visit the Palazzo Apostolico, or Palazzo Papale (papal palace) — as well as its beautiful gardens with spectacular views over Lake Albano. It's currently open to the public daily (check the website for opening times) although it will be closed on Saturday 26 April as a sign of mourning. In Viterbo, around 100 minutes by train north of Rome, is the Palazzo dei Papi, or Palace of the Popes. From 1257 to 1281, the Curia was moved here from Rome, and a suitably grand papal palace was built for the occasion — which is open to visitors today. The city carried on being a favorite escape for popes even when they were based back in Rome — one 15th century pontiff even added a bathhouse to take full advantage of Viterbo's famous thermal waters.
Daily Tribune
21-02-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
Pope Francis to Break Centuries-Old Burial Tradition Upon His Passing
As Pope Francis remains hospitalized with double pneumonia, speculation has grown over his final resting place. In a historic departure from tradition, the Pope has already arranged for his burial to take place at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, rather than in the Vatican grottoes beneath St. Peter's Basilica, where most of his predecessors rest. The 87-year-old pontiff, known for his humble and reformist approach, disclosed at the end of 2023 that he had chosen the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome's Esquilino neighborhood for his tomb. This church, one of the four major papal basilicas, has not served as the final resting place for a pope in over 350 years. The last pope to be buried there was Clement IX in 1669. A further break from tradition is evident in the new burial rites issued last year. Unlike his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who was laid to rest in three nested coffins—including one made of lead—Francis will be interred in a single zinc-lined wooden casket. A Long-Standing Tradition Since the completion of St. Peter's Basilica in 1626, 24 out of 31 popes have been buried in its grottoes. Pope Benedict XVI was interred in a crypt beneath the basilica, in the same tomb that previously held Pope John Paul II before his beatification in 2011. Over the years, burial practices for popes have evolved. Pope John XXIII, who died in 1963, was originally buried beneath St. Peter's Basilica but was later moved in 2001 to a glass sarcophagus under the altar of St. Jerome, where his body remains on display. Pope Francis's decision marks one of the most significant changes to papal funerary customs in recent history. A Special Connection to Santa Maria Maggiore Pope Francis has expressed a deep personal connection to Santa Maria Maggiore, making more than 100 visits to the fifth-century church. He frequently prays before the sacred image of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, often doing so before and after international trips. Despite his burial preference, Pope Francis is still expected to lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica before his funeral, according to the revised 'Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis' (Funeral Rites of the Roman Pontiff) introduced last year. Unlike previous popes, he will rest in his coffin during this period, rather than on a catafalque, and the coffin will remain open until the night before his funeral. The Pope's Current Health Crisis Concerns over Pope Francis's health have intensified following his hospitalization on February 14. Vatican officials confirmed that he is suffering from pneumonia, which is further complicated by asthmatic bronchitis. The condition is particularly concerning given that the Pope had part of one of his lungs removed when he was 21. Reports indicate that Francis has told close associates that he 'might not make it this time,' further fueling speculation that he is preparing for the possibility of his passing. The Vatican has continued to provide updates on his condition, stating that while his situation remains complex, he is receiving cortisone antibiotic treatment and close medical supervision. As the world watches and prays for his recovery, Pope Francis's decision to break with centuries-old burial traditions underscores his commitment to humility and personal devotion—hallmarks of his papacy.
