In the document announced on Wednesday, Pope Francis simplified the ritual of papal burial. The new rules are intended to emphasize that it is the funeral of a shepherd and disciple of Christ, not of a ruler, the Holy See informed.
The first element of the simplified protocol is the decision that the pope's death will be confirmed not in his room, but in a private chapel. Francis ordered that the pope's body be immediately placed in a coffin and displayed there. Until now, the body of the deceased was displayed on a catafalque.
Instead of three coffins, the body will be placed in two – made of zinc and wood.
Francis had already announced that he wanted to simplify the ritual of the papal funeral.
Pope Francis has simplified the ritual of papal burial OLIVIER MATTHYS/PAP/EPA
The new rules will replace those from 1998, i.e. from the time of the pontificate John Paul II.
His funeral took place in 2005 in accordance with these rules. With partial changes, they were also used during the retiree's funeral ceremonies Pope Benedict XVI in January last year.
Francis also revealed earlier that he had already determined that – in accordance with his wishes – he would be buried in Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major, which is a particularly important place for him.
Main photo source: OLIVIER MATTHYS/PAP/EPA