What not many know about the Vacant Seat of the Pope is that all senior Curia officials are leaving office. Cardinal Pietro Parolin is no longer in the number two position of the Holy See, nor do the former prefects now perform their duties as heads of dicasteries.
That is why roles and functions are closely monitored in Vatican protocol. Almost everything falls into the hands of the Camerlengo, Kevin Farrell, who, having that position, will preside over the rite to close Pope Francis's coffin.
But first, a series of steps must be followed, as what happened with Pope Benedict XVI. A record commemorating the life and works of the deceased will be read and, after being signed by some people present, will be laid in a metal tube that will be placed in the coffin.
The Pope's face will be covered with a white silk veil, and inside the coffin, coins minted during the pontificate will be placed in a cloth bag, although they will not be chosen at random.
They must indicate their duration: one gold coin for each year, one silver coin for each additional month, and others in bronze for the number of days. This will be the last time anyone will see Pope Francis.
Although the Pope modified the funeral procession, the Saturday funeral Mass remains the same as it was under his predecessors.
P. LEONARDO CARDOZA
Doctor of Lituegy
It's a somewhat special funeral, we could say, because it's part of the entire complex of modifications made by Pope Francis. However, what is already the funeral Mass, the Mass that has already been scheduled for Saturday morning, remains the funeral Mass of a bishop, in this case, the Bishop of Rome.
A newer aspect will be the funeral procession after the Mass. The last one was for Pope Pius XII, who died in 1958, and his body was carried out in a hearse.
P. LEONARDO CARDOZA
Doctor of Liturgy
It was a procession in a hearse, a horse-drawn carriage, as in ancient times, from Castel Gandolfo, passing through Via Merulana, to reach St. Peter's Basilica. Now, once again, we will see a procession or transfer of the Pope's remains, not only for the funeral rites in St. Peter's, but also leaving Vatican City, crossing the city of Rome to reach the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
The Pope's tomb will be in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. He himself said how he wanted it - simple, without any particular decoration, and with a single inscription that says 'Franciscus'.
CA
TR: GS
