The death of Pope Francis has caused global grief, with the funeral of the Primate of the Roman Catholic Church, barring unforeseen circumstances, taking place on Saturday, April 26.
Pope Francis' body was taken on Easter Monday night to the chapel of the Santa Marta hostel, where he was staying. His office and apartment were sealed off while thousands of faithful flooded the area around the Vatican in a show of mourning and the Italian government declared three days of national mourning.
The body of Pope Francis will be exposed for public veneration tomorrow, Wednesday, April 23, despite the wish of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years to be buried in a simple coffin in Santa Maria Maggiore.
The Vatican has made public the will of Pope Francis, regarding the place and details of his burial.
The relevant document confirms that the Pontiff's burial, according to his will, should take place in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Pope Francis in the central gallery of St. Peter's Basilica to give the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday, April 20, 2025.
“The grave should be under the floor, simple, without special decoration and with only one inscription: Franciscus,” the will states. In fact, Pope Francis wrote in his will: “May the Lord reward those who loved me and will continue to pray for me. The test of my health, which appeared in the last period of my life, I offered to the Lord, in favor of peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples.”
Pope Francis' last wishes
It is noteworthy that Pope Francis did not want his funeral to be held with honors, as was customary for the Popes before him. That is why his burial is expected to take place with a change in the ritual.
Pope Francis even left instructions for his own funeral. Francis has canonized more than 900 people, including his predecessors, John XXIII, John Paul II and Paul VI, as well as Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was assassinated in 1980.
Pope Francis appears in the central gallery of St. Peter's Basilica to give the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday, April 20, 2025.
This number, however, also includes the Martyrs of Otranto, approximately 800, the inhabitants of a village in southern Italy who were massacred by the Ottomans in 1480. Francis also proceeded to canonize at least 1.350 people, the final step before sainthood.
The battle of succession after the death of Pope Francis
However, within three weeks of the day of Pope Francis' death, the 136 cardinals (up to 80 years old), 70% of whom were chosen by Francis, are expected to be isolated in secret ballots to elect the new head of the Catholic Church. A two-thirds majority is required, while the process has a 13-day deadline for white smoke to appear from the Sistine Chapel chimney and the oldest of the cardinals to announce to the crowd "Habemus Papam, (we have a Pope).
The possible candidates for the papacy
Although the conclave process is secret, some names have already been mentioned as possible successors:
Catholic Patriarch Pietro Parolin (Italy): As Vatican Secretary of State, he is considered an experienced diplomat with a moderate approach, able to bridge the gap between liberal and traditional factions.
Catholic Patriarch Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines): Former Archbishop of Manila and current head of the Department for Evangelistic Action, he is known for his charismatic presence and emphasis on social justice.
Catholic Patriarch Robert Sara (Guinea): One of the best-known traditionalist cardinals, he supports a return to more traditional forms of worship and doctrine.
Catholic Patriarch Matteo Zuppi (Italy): Archbishop of Bologna, known for his social action and approach to issues of immigrants and peace.
Catholic Bishop Anders Arborelius (Stockholm): Arborelius, 75, is the bishop of Stockholm and the first Catholic bishop of Sweden.
Catholic Archbishop Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar): Bo, 76, is the archbishop of Yangon in Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist country. He has spoken out against the violence perpetrated by the country's military junta, which has targeted Catholic villages and churches.
Catholic Bishop François-Xavier Bistillo (France): Bistillo, 56, is the bishop of Aix-en-Provence, the capital of the French island of Corsica, a region with a strong Catholic tradition. He is one of the youngest in the College of Cardinals.
Catholic Archbishop Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Democratic Republic of Congo): Ambongo, 65, is the archbishop of Kinshasa and president of the Association of Catholic Bishops of Africa. He is among the candidates to become the first Black Pope, representing Africa's rapidly growing Catholic community.
Source: newsbomb.gr
