A farewell like no other: Pope Francis overhauled his own funeral plans, signaling a major departure from papal norms; here’s what will be different this time

Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, but he continues to make history. He was known for his humility and commitment to reform, and he had already reimagined the rites for his own funeral. What is now planned deviates sharply from the Vatican's centuries-old traditions.

How did Pope Francis prepare for his own funeral?

Pope Francis essentially wrote a new script for his own funeral and future popes' funerals by implementing a number of changes to papal funeral rites last year.

Last year, the pope modified the funeral ceremonies by removing some of the pomp and circumstance and placing more emphasis on humility. Defying tradition, he opted for a humble ceremony, burial outside the Vatican walls, and streamlined rites, marking a historic change in the way popes are remembered in death, as quoted in a report by Fortune.


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His death will mark the start of a planned process that will differ greatly from those of his predecessors.

After Pope Benedict XVI resigned, Pope Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected at the age of 76. He chose a less formal approach to his office with a focus on reform, and his public life was characterized by humility and compassion for the underprivileged.

During his historic tenure as pope, the Catholic church permitted same-sex unions and women were granted the right to vote at the Synod of Bishops.

Why did he choose to be buried outside the Vatican?

He indicated a different approach to how he wanted his death to be handled even before altering the funeral customs.

Francis declared in 2023 that he would be buried in Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, in contrast to the majority of popes who have been interred in the grottoes beneath St. Peter's Basilica. He claimed that would allow him to be close to his favorite Madonna icon, as quoted in a report by Fortune.

What funeral changes did Pope Francis make?

Much of the pomp and circumstance will not be present at Pope Francis' funeral. Francis altered the funeral rites that were to be performed upon his passing last year. In twenty-four years, those were the first changes.

The Vatican had to plan a retired pope's funeral for the first time in 600 years following the death of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI in 2022, which prompted the changes. It also gave Francis the chance to make things simpler.

He changed the burial arrangements for popes, such as eliminating the need for the pope to be positioned on a raised platform in St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing. Instead, his body will rest in state in a plain coffin, together with the bodies of future popes.

The custom of using three interlocking coffins made of lead, cypress, and wood was abandoned, as per a report by Fortune.

The adjustments emphasize "even more that the Roman Pontiff's funeral is that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world," Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of papal liturgical rituals, told Vatican News.

The rites still require nine days of memorial masses at the Vatican, but the prayers and Scripture readings were updated to reflect the new translations.

The Litany of Saints, which is recited as the pope's body is carried into St. Peter's Basilica, will also feature more saints, as per a report by Fortune.

FAQs

Where will Pope Francis be buried?
He chose Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome over the Vatican.

What is different about Pope Francis’ funeral?
It will be simpler, with no triple coffin, no grand platform, and more modest rites.