Upon his death, Pope Francis will be exposed in the coffin and not on a catafalque, “with dignity but like every Christian”. There will be one wake and not two and no closing ceremony of the coffin. Thus Pope Francis simplified the funeral rite, according to what he says in the book-interview with Javier Martinez-Brocal ‘El sucesor’ (Planeta editions), out tomorrow 3 April.
Remembering the funeral of Benedict XVI, Francis says: “It will be the last funeral vigil celebrated like this, with the Pope’s body exposed outside the coffin, on a catafalque. I spoke with the master of ceremonies and we eliminated this and many other things”, ” the actual ritual was too overloaded.”
In the book Pope Francis also confirms that he gave instructions to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore. The Pontiff explains that after the statue of the Queen of Peace “there is a room where they kept the candelabra”. “That’s the place”, “they confirmed to me that everything is ready” for his future burial.
The Pope says that the Marian basilica has been dear to him since before he became Pope, and that he often went there to pray.
He then tells an anecdote: once a man there tried to scam him by trying to sell him a watch. “By instinct” Bergoglio said that he had no money and then “they told me that if I had taken out my wallet he would have slapped me and taken it away. Impressive”.
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA
