How Pope Francis Broke Precedent with His Funeral Plans Before He Died

Years before his death at the age of 88, Pope Francis outlined his own burial plans and said he hoped that they would be different from papal funerals of the past.

In his final testament, Francis specified that he wanted to be buried “in the ground, without particular decoration” and with the inscription of his papal name in Latin — “Franciscus” — according to Reuters.

Additionally, his burial will not require the traditional three coffins consisting of cypress, lead and oak. Last year, Francis approved new funeral rites that call for his body to be on view in a simple coffin rather than being placed on an elevated bier, the Associated Press reported. 

Previously, Francis told a Mexican broadcaster in 2023 that he wanted to be interred in St. Mary Major, a Rome basilica, instead of the Vatican. After meeting with the papal master of ceremonies to plan his funeral, he joked that he wanted to be the person to “premiere” the new ritual.

“It’s my great devotion,” Francis said at the time. “The place is already prepared.”

According to CBS News, no pope has been laid to rest at the site since the 17th century, when Pope Clement IX was buried there.

A nine-day period of mourning, known as Novendiale, has begun following Francis’ death.

According to the Vatican, Pope Francis died on Monday, April 21, at 7:35 a.m. local time due to a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.

The pontiff was also affected by a “previous episode of acute respiratory failure in bilateral multimicrobial pneumonia, multiple bronchiectasis, arterial hypertension and type II diabetes.”

Earlier this year, Francis was hospitalized for 38 days for double pneumonia before he was released in March.

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During Novendiale, the pope’s body will be blessed and lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City for viewing, according to Politico. The Vatican said that it’s expected to begin on Wednesday, April 23, though specifics were still being finalized.

Francis’ funeral will take place at St. Peter’s Square, weather permitting, sometime between the fourth and sixth day after his death.