Pope Francis’ coffin was closed at 8 pm (15h in Brasília) this Friday, 25, finishing the wake, which began on Wednesday. Jorge Mario Bergoglio is being veiled in an open coffin made of wood and zinc, dressed in a red hell and white miter, holding a rosary.
Those, who died at the age of 88 on Monday, 21, were taking an average of 5 hours.
The funeral will take place on Saturday, 26, at 10am (5am in Brasilia), in St. Peter’s Square, when the Mass of Exequias will be celebrated, which marks the beginning of the nine days of mourning and prayers in honor of the Pontiff. In the day, the presence of faithful and authorities from around the world is expected.
At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, there will be the rites of the last Commendatio and Valedictio – solemn farewells that mark the closing of the foster.
Then, the Pope’s coffin will be taken again into the St. Peter’s Basilica and, from there, transferred to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica (Santa Maria Maior), where the burial ceremony will be held on Saturday.
The Pontiff opted for the burial in the Santa Maria Maior Church, instead of the St. Peter’s Basilica, which houses more than 90 popes, because it is the church that Francisco traditionally attended to say his prayers in Rome (diocese of which the bishop was officially). Before him, Leo XIII, in 1903, had opted for the burial in the Church of St. John of Lateran.
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The burial will be marked by farewell specific rites:
- The ceremony will start reading a text about the most important actions of the pontiff.
- A white silk veil will be placed over Francisco’s face.
- After the blessing with holy water, coins and coined medals during the pontificate will be placed inside the coffin. They represent the years they were at the head of the church.
- A tube with the summary of the period, with the seal of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Pontiff Liturgical Celebrations, will also be next to the body.
- Then the zinc coffin lid (inner coating of the wooden structure) will be placed. In it there will be a cross, the papal coat of arms, the plaque with the name of Francis, the duration of his life and his petrine ministry.
- Subsequently, the coffin will be soldered and the seals of Cardinal Cardinal from the Holy Roman Church, the Pontifical House City Hall, the craft to liturgical celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff and the Vatican chapter. The wooden coffin will also be closed. In the lid, will also be the cross and papal coat of arms of Francis.
