Francis admitted in an interview that he had planned his funeral. He stated that he was giving up exposing the body on the catafalque. In this context, he recalled the funeral of his predecessor – Benedict – and assessed that the ceremony was too overloaded. “I talked to the master of ceremonies and we eliminated this and many other things,” the pope revealed.
Pope Francis in the book interview “Successor” talked regarding what his last farewell to the faithful would look like.
He mentioned it in the context of the funeral of Benedict XVI. He said, quoted by the Italian news agency ANSA: It was the last funeral vigil celebrated in this way, with the pope’s body exposed outside the coffin, of your shoes.
“I talked to the master of ceremonies and we eliminated this and many other things,” Francis revealed. He expressed the opinion that the ritual was “too overloaded.”
Pope Francis planned what his last farewell would be like
The Pope confirmed that he had given instructions that he wanted to be buried in the basilica Our Lady Greater. He visits her before every important moment of his pontificate, before and following every foreign trip, as well as following returning from the hospital. He prayed there often before he became pope.
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Francis explained that behind the statue of the Queen of Peace there “is room where candelabra are kept and this was the place he chose for burial. “They confirmed to me that everything is ready,” he concluded.
This is what Benedykt’s farewell looked like
On New Year’s Eve 2023, the Vatican officially announced the death of Francis’ predecessor, Joseph Ratzinger, the retired pope. Benedict XVI.
SEE: Pope Francis reveals the backstage of the conclave. “They tried to take advantage of me”
At first, the body stood on a catafalque in the Vatican chapel – in the monastery where Benedict XVI lived. Then was publicly exhibited in the Basilica of St. Peter. The faithful had three days to pay tribute to him.
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