The rites and rituals following the death of a pope, his funeral and burial, explained

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The death of a pope sets in motion a series of carefully orchestrated rites and rituals well before the conclave to elect his successor begins. They involve the certification of death and public display of his body for the faithful to pay their respects, followed by the funeral and burial. Pope Francis, who died on Monday , revised various rites last year, simplifying the funeral rituals to emphasize his role as a mere bishop and allowing for burial outside the Vatican in keeping with his wishes.

But the core elements remain, including the three key moments that must be observed between the death of a pope and his burial. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.



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