Pope Francis’ final burial request breaks from tradition

Pope Francis’s final burial wishes mark a break from the tradition that is usually adhered to when a pope dies, according to reports.

Pope Francis passed away yesterday (April 21), having appeared on the main balcony of St Peter’s Basilica just one day prior, on Easter Sunday. Aged 88 at the time of his death, rumors of the pope’s declining health had been abound in recent months.

In February reports suggested that the Holy Father had been battling pneumonia and a complex lung infection for a number of weeks. He was also said to be suffering from early-stage kidney failure amid his treatment.

Yesterday, April 21, the Vatican released a statement confirming that he had passed away that morning.

“At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father,” they said.

“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.

“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.”

Given that Pope Francis was already a man in his latter years when he was elected pope (he was 76), it perhaps should not come as a surprise that he experienced health issues throughout his papacy.

He wrote his final burial request in 2022, penning that he could ‘sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life’, and giving instructions that signal a major break from papal tradition.

Tradition dictates that popes are buried in a certain way when they pass, and that they’re given three coffins placed inside of one another, one made of cypress wood, one of lead and one of elm.

After the coffins have been put together the deceased pope’s body is placed inside and buried beneath St. Peter’s.

Pope Francis, however, known for being something of a modernizing figure, requested that his burial be a rather simpler affair. As per reports, the Argentina-born sovereign of the Vatican City is to be buried in a coffin made of wood and lined with zinc. In another break from tradition, he will not be buried at St. Peter’s, but rather interred at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.

Neither shall the inscription on his coffin be overly flamboyant, with Pope Francis having written: “The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.”

In a twist that’s now making headlines around the world, the Vatican have confirmed that Pope Francis passed away from a massive cerebral stroke — not from any of the respiratory illnesses he was previously treated for.

He died peacefully, officials said — passing away not in the hospital but at home, surrounded by the silence of Vatican grounds.

Rest in peace, Pope Francis.

Related Posts

Father needed support during the wake…

The pain of losing an entire family caused commotion among the population of Sidrolândia, located in the interior of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, where…

20 Minutes ago in Pennsylvania, Jesse Watters was confirmed as…See more

20 Minutes ago in Pennsylvania, Jesse Watters was confirmed as the keynote speaker for the state’s upcoming Conservative Leadership Conference, a move that signals the event’s organizers…

Now we know why the Talk Show Host has never been married.

The personal life of a beloved talk show host has always been a topic of gentle speculation among fans, particularly their never-married status. Now, in a candid…

What My Mother’s Goodbye Taught Me About My Dad

My mom left me for another man when I was 11. My dad raised me. He wasn’t perfect, but he was steady — at every parent-teacher conference,…

Why a Roll of Toilet Paper in Your Fridge Could Be Trying to Tell You Something

If you find a roll of toilet paper in your fridge, it might seem unusual at first, but there are practical reasons for this clever household trick….

Democratic Party Faces Major Setback as Voter Registrations Decline Nationwide

The Democratic Party is facing significant challenges as new data shows a steep decline in voter registrations across the country, while Republicans continue to gain ground. Analysts…