Featured Image Credit: Vatican Pool/Getty
Topics: Pope Francis, Catholic Church, World News, Religion
Liv Bridge
Topics: Pope Francis, Catholic Church, World News, Religion
There are several rites that will be observed by the Vatican following Pope Francis' death, which have some unusual reasons behind them.
The beloved pontiff passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday (April 21) from a stroke after weeks of fighting off a respiratory illness in hospital.
Announcing the tragic news on Monday, Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell said: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father."
The Camerlengo Cardinal, who is tasked with organizing a series of orchestrated rituals in quick succession, also paid tribute to the late Pope, saying he dedicated his 'entire life' to God and the Catholic Church while inviting the world to 'live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised'.
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Now that his death has been confirmed, the traditional 'Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis', Latin for 'Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs,' has been triggered ahead of Francis' funeral and burial on Saturday (April 26).
This means several key moments have already taken place, including dressing his body in red liturgical vestments in preparation for his public display from an open casket at St. Peter’s Basilica tomorrow (Wednesday).
Pope Francis' formal apartment has also been ceremoniously sealed with a red ribbon and wax in declaring 'sede vacante,' meaning 'vacant see,' the period between the death of a pontiff to the election of his successor.
Officials could be seen draping a red ribbon through the door handles of the grand Apostolic Palace and sealing it with liquid wax that was impressed with Francis' papal seal.
The ritual has reportedly been carried out to 'prevent looting,' reports Sky, though is perhaps more ceremonial considering the late Pope actually chose to reside in more humble quarters in the church guesthouse, Domus Sanctae Marthae (Casa Santa Marta or Saint Martha's House) ever since his election in 2013.
In other traditions, the Buenos Aires-born Pope's iconic gold signet ring will also be destroyed with a special hammer.
Francis, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, wore the Fisherman's Ring on his right hand which has amassed a value of an estimated $520,000.
But it will be destroyed by the Camerlengo Cardinal to prevent it from being misused or for fraud, as the pope used it to seal his private letters, though given modern advances, its purpose is also considered purely ceremonial.
Meanwhile, faithful members of the public can come to see the Pope from his casket on St Peter's Basilica before the funeral plans begin.
Then, Camerlengo Farrell will sort Francis' coffin with important items, like a bag of coins minted during his papacy and a written account of his papacy, before formally sealing it off.
The funeral will then start the first of nine days of official mourning, known as the 'novemidales,' before he is laid to rest in Rome's St Mary Major Basillica outside of the Vatican, as per his wishes.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli said this was because the late Pope preferred to 'emphasize' his role as a 'pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world,' as per ABC News.
The Conclave will then take place at least 15 days after the Pope's passing, where the cardinals will lock themselves in the Sistine chapel for the highly secretive election process.