Pope Francis’ final wishes revealed

The death of Pope Francis marks not only the end of a remarkable papacy but also a break from centuries of elaborate funeral traditions.

In keeping with the spirit of humility that defined his life, Pope Francis had recently approved significant changes to the rites surrounding the death and burial of a Roman Pontiff.

Traditionally, papal funerals involved intricate rituals, including the use of three nested coffins — one of cypress, one of lead, and a third of oak. In contrast, Pope Francis will be laid to rest in a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc.

Another major departure from custom is the absence of the catafalque, the raised platform traditionally used to display the Pope’s body in St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.

Instead, mourners will be invited to pay their respects while the Pope’s body remains inside the open coffin, without elaborate staging.

Perhaps the most historic change is the burial site. Pope Francis will become the first Pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican.

He will be interred in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome — a place he often visited during his pontificate to pray before and after important missions.

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Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis was known for embracing “firsts” and breaking precedents. He was the first Pope from the Americas and the southern hemisphere, and the first Jesuit ever elected to the throne of St. Peter.

Until his election in 2013, it had been nearly 1,300 years — since the death of Syrian-born Gregory III in 741 — that a non-European had led the Catholic Church.

Francis also steered the Church through an era of reform while maintaining the affection of many traditionalists.

His pontificate followed another historic event: the resignation of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, the first Pope to retire voluntarily in almost 600 years. For nearly a decade, the Vatican Gardens were home to two living popes.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis was already in his seventies when he was elected Pope, yet he energized the Church with a fresh focus on mercy, simplicity, and global inclusivity.

Now, in death as in life, Pope Francis leaves a legacy of humility, breaking from opulent tradition to once again place his faith and example above the grandeur of office.