Death of the Pope: New rules for the funeral service in Rome!

Death of the Pope: New rules for the funeral service in Rome!

April 22, 2025 will go down in the history of the Catholic Church as a drastic day for many believers around the world. Ralf Uhlenbrock, who checked in Rome on Monday morning, received the news of the Pope's death. This unexpected message meant that Uhlenbrock had to re -plan his travel program, which meant a surprising turn for his stay in the eternal city. In addition to the direct reaction to the death of the Pontifex, this event also has far -reaching effects on the coming days and the future of the Catholic Church, especially against the background of the new rituals that Pope Francis has introduced.

The death of a Pope is accompanied by serious traditions that have been firmly anchored since the late 19th century. In the past, death was determined by the recognition, in which the papal treasurer called the deceased three times in his baptismal name and gently hit him against his forehead. Today it is officially determined in the presence of doctors. After death, the Pope is laid out in a wooden coffin, and his seal ring is broken in the first cardinal meeting. The news about Pope Francis and his state of health-it is currently in the Gemelli Hospital-offer a shocking context for the time of its death, because a resignation of the Pope cannot be ruled out.

new rituals and traditions

The rituals after the death of a Pope are divided into three stations. First, the coffin is carried out. Death is determined in the private chapel and the body is then laid out in a simple wooden coffin, which represents a significant change in comparison to earlier practice. Pope Francis attached great importance to the fact that the burial should not be pompous but modest. These changes can be found in the newly published "Ordo Exsquiam Romani Pontificis", which places an emphasis on the Pope as a shepherd and disciple of Christ, instead of his office as a secular leader.

The second station is the last audience in St. Peter's Basilica, where believers can say goodbye to the open coffin. The coffin is closed the evening before the funeral fair. At this point the mourning phase, the "Novendiali", also begins in the cardinals to choose a new Pope. The bells of all Catholic churches worldwide ring after death, a sign of global grief. The last stop is the burial, which in the new practice no longer automatically takes place in the Vatican Basilica. Francis favors the "Santa Maria Maggiore" chapel as his funeral location. Historically, additional coffins were used and the use of a high Bahrre (Katafalk) was common, but these practices were abolished.

The last words of the Pope are often publicly handed down and usually have a religious relationship. These memories can be comforting for the believers, especially in the period of grief and reflection on the life and work of the deceased. Miss information about the death of popes have been common in the past, and the new rituals seem to pursue an intention to bring more clarity and awe in dealing with these significant moments.

With the death of a Pope, not only a human tragedy can be seen, but also a turn in the history of the Church. The upcoming election processes and the associated changes could have fundamental effects on the Catholic community worldwide. How these developments will take place remains to be seen.