What makes Pope Francis' funeral different from his predecessors'? All about beloved pontiff's humble burial

Pope Francis will be the first pope in about 150 years not to be buried in St. Peter's Basilica, having expressed his wish to be buried in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows. Papal funerals are accompanied by numerous rituals, some of which date back 2,000 years. Which ones will Francis abandon?

His last will: Francis is buried in a simple earth grave in Santa Maria Maggiore – an extreme contrast to the posthumous splendor of many of his predecessors, who have left us unique works of art.

«I entrust one thing to you. I have spoken to the master of ceremonies and we have eliminated many other things from the pontifical funeral rite», Pope Francis revealed to the ABC correspondent in July 2023. The ritual, which had already been lightened by his predecessors Paul VI and John Paul II, was still in the opinion of Francis «too heavy». His idea was «that the popes should be veiled and buried like any child of the Church. With dignity, …

Early on Monday morning, Pope Francis passed away and the traditional funeral rituals began shortly after. Unlike many of his predecessors, the Pope has wished to be buried in a simple tomb in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore outside the Vatican City. – It is a church that has been very dear to his heart, says Helena D'Arcy, editor-in-chief of Katolskt Magasin to SVT Nyheter.

What makes Pope Francis' funeral different from his predecessors'? All about beloved pontiff's humble burial

Pope Francis will be the first Pope to be buried outside the Vatican in more than a century.

Pope Francis wants to be buried more simply than his predecessors. He has made sure in detail that the well-established Vatican apparatus will comply with his requirements.