Preparations for the funeral of Pope Francis, the greatest religious leader of Christians, have begun in Vatican City. Mourning will be observed for nine days on his death. Pope Francis had made some changes in the rules related to the funeral in the year 2000. In ancient times, there was also a tradition in christianity that some organs were removed for the purpose of preserving the body of the Pope.
Pope Francis had told in 2024 where and how he should be buried. He did not want to be laid on a high platform. He wished that he should be cremated like a normal priest. He had chosen Maria Maggiore Basilica as his final resting place. Usually the body of the Pope is buried in the Vatican Grottoes, a basement built under St. Peter's Basilica.
Where will the body of Pope Francis be buried?
After the death of the Pope, mourning is observed for nine days, this period is known as Novendial in the ancient custom of Rome. Pope Francis had expressed his desire to bury his body in Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome in the year 2024. This is his favorite church, where he used to visit often.
Will the Pope's body not be kept in a three-layer coffin?
During the period of Novendial, Francis is taken to St. Peter's Basilica dressed in papal clothes. St. Peter, the first Pope of Rome, was buried in St. Peter's Basilica and usually the body of the Pope is buried in the Vatican Grottoes, a basement built under St. Peter's Basilica. Pope Francis wished that he should be buried like a normal priest and his body should not be kept in three coffins, which is a custom of the funeral of the Pope. people will have the last glimpse of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica.
Hearts of 22 Popes still preserved in the church
There was another practice of funeral of the Pope between the 16th and 19th century, in which three organs of the Pope were removed to preserve the body. Even today, the heart, liver, spleen and pancreas of 22 Popes are preserved. These organs are kept in marble stone urns in a church near the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain was built in the 18th century. However, Pope Francis changed these practices in 2024.
The Pope had expressed his wish to be buried in a simple wooden coffin
The Pope had expressed his wish to simplify his funeral. He had requested to be buried in a simple wooden coffin instead of a three-layered coffin and had expressed his wish to bury his body in Rome, the Vatican's Bayaz. Also, he did not allow any organ to be removed from his body.
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