What occurs after a pope dies?
As of late, docs declare a pope lifeless, similar to with another individual. However by custom, a senior Vatican official known as the camerlengo ceremonially confirms his passing.
The camerlengo usually does this by visiting the pope’s physique in his non-public chapel, and calling out his identify to awaken him. When the pontiff – one other identify for the pope – doesn’t reply, a hoop he wears that acts because the seal for official papal paperwork is defaced or destroyed. This marks the tip of his time period of papacy.
The camerlengo then seals off the pope’s house, and informs the School of Cardinals – the physique of senior church officers – that he has died.
Then, the Vatican points an announcement to the world’s media.
What follows is a nine-day mourning interval known as the novendiale, a customized with its origins in historic Rome.
The pope’s physique is blessed, wearing papal garments, and put in Saint Peter’s Basilica within the Vatican for public viewing.
Historically it will be displayed on a raised platform, however Pope Francis – born Jorge Mario Bergoglio – has requested to lie in an open coffin.
Every day prayer companies and much might be held on the basilica and all through the Catholic world.
The funeral takes place, almost certainly in St Peter’s Sq. in entrance of the basilica, between 4 and 6 days after the pope’s dying.
In line with studies from the Related Press and Reuters, his physique might be buried within the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome. It’s one in every of Francis’ favorite church buildings, and it’ll make him the primary pope in a century to be buried outdoors the Vatican.
Near 100 of his predecessors are buried within the Vatican Grottoes, crypts beneath St Peter’s Basilica.
Earlier popes had been laid in three-layered coffins fabricated from cypress, lead and oak. Pope Francis’ might be a single-layered one fabricated from wooden and zinc.
Popes are additionally buried wearing blood-red vestments or robes, a reminder of shedding one’s blood, or laying down one’s life, for the religion and the trustworthy.
