Reason Pope Francis' body is currently on public display following his death aged 88
There's a crucial reason Pope Francis' body is currently on display after his death on Monday.
The beloved pontiff passed away at the age of 88 years old on Easter Monday (April 21), which the Vatican has confirmed was due to a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.
Pope Francis had been sick for some time, suffering from respiratory illnesses that required hospital treatment in the weeks before his death.
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.
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"His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune."
Now, there will be a lengthy period of orchestrated rites and rituals to observe, as is tradition for the death of any pope as outlined in the 'Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis', Latin for 'Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs,' before his funeral and burial - and before the conclave meets in the Sistine Chapel to conduct their incredibly secretive election process for his successor.
Francis, whose real name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was known for his progressive attitude that shunned some traditions, like refusing his papal salary and the chance to live in the grand Apostolic Palace in favor of a more humble abode.
To this end, he also revised various rites for his funeral, which includes being buried outside the Vatican.
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.
Still, the main three moments are underway, the first of which involved the formal confirmation of his death from his personal chapel at Santa Marta.
After this, his body was dressed in red liturgical vestments and moved into a wooden coffin - another break from the traditional cypress, lead or oak coffins of his predecessors.
His miter, the traditional headdress worn by bishops, his woolen stole (like a scarf) and the Pasqual candle have also been placed by his coffin.
The master of liturgical celebrations, Ravelli, then decided other faithful followers can come to pay their respects at St. Peter’s Basilica where his body will be on display in an open casket for the public from Wednesday morning until the night before his funeral.
Then, camerlengo Farrell will place a white cloth over his face and important items, like a bag of coins minted during his papacy, and a one-page written account of his papacy, will be added into the coffin before it is formally closed and sealed.
The funeral has now been confirmed to take place on Saturday (April 26), triggering the first of nine-days of official mourning known as a the 'novemidales'.
The conclave will then meet to deliberate the next pope in a task that is so secretive they are locked in and prohibited phones, newspapers or letters from the outside world.
The select few will also vote on their ballots every day and burn them, with either white or black smoke emitting from the chimney to indicate if a decision has been reached.
Topics: Catholic Church, Pope Francis, Religion, World News
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