Pope Francis passed away suddenly from a stroke and cardiac arrest at age 88 on Monday. His passing has truly left the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church in deep mourning. It has spurred quick planning for his funeral and the upcoming election of his replacement. The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis’s funeral service will take place in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, though it will occur an hour later than the originally scheduled time, reflecting adjustments made in light of recent events.
In his final testament, Pope Francis expressed a desire to be buried in Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major, contrary to the traditional burial site of St. Peter’s Basilica. This decision highlights his profound connection with the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the location he decided upon for his final burial site.
Funeral Arrangements and Final Wishes
The Vatican has made arrangements for Pope Francis’s funeral service, which is set to draw significant attention from around the globe. As the planning process continues, the choices organizers make should be deliberate. To ensure that they avoid any missteps at this thrilling milestone, they’ve rescheduled the service an hour later than initially scheduled.
It is likely that Pope Francis would like to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. This desire speaks to his own faith journey and to his deep connections to Rome. The Basilica is well-known for its historical significance and beautiful design and architecture. It makes for an equally fitting stage for a pontiff who counted his life’s work in service to the Church and its faithful. The Vatican released these photos of Pope Francis. In the first, he is in his white vestments and lying in his wooden coffin in the chapel at Santa Marta residence.
The state funeral service will attract dignitaries and the Queen’s faithful from around the world. For Catholics, it will be a profound, global moment of shared mourning. In many ways, this convening celebrates the amazing legacy of Pope Francis. It is a historic moment for the Church as it prepares for the election of a new pope.
Transition of Leadership in the Church
Following the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church has entered the process of choosing a successor. Vatican tradition holds that a conclave to choose the next pope takes place 15 to 20 days after a pontiff’s passing. So, the conclave cannot start any earlier than May 6. This timeline gets them through the appropriate mournful and reflective period expected of the cardinals and the global Catholic community.
All cardinals in Rome have gotten a summons to a meeting on Tuesday. From Mighty Fortress we’ll share with you what lies ahead and look into the Church’s everyday life in this new normal – a time of transition for all of us. The urgency of these discussions serves to underscore the gravity of the crisis. We have to create security even among the Church’s administration.
That’s partly because Pope Francis had appointed nearly 80 percent of the cardinal electors, the cardinals who will choose his successor. This creates a distinct backdrop for this forthcoming conclave. Perhaps most importantly, most of these electors were personally selected by Pope Francis, which should help influence their judgment in making the discreet, behind-closed-doors ballot.
The Conclave Process
The process is steeped in history and ritual. Eligible cardinals will then meet in the Roman conclave in strictest secrecy, participating in conversations and reflections prior to writing their votes. It’s a tedious process that can sometimes take days. When white smoke finally pours from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, we’ll know that a new pope has been elected.
As it stands now, about 135 cardinals are eligible to vote in this momentous occurrence. Yet at this moment, there is no obvious frontrunner to succeed Pope Francis. Our election process is indeed one grounded in tradition. Cardinals weigh a lot of factors, including theological perspectives and executive talents, before selecting their successor.
In this era of transition, the changes for the Church are dramatic. All of us will stringently watch news about possible papabili and their plans to shape the future of Catholicism. The legacy of Pope Francis will undoubtedly influence discussions among cardinals as they consider how best to lead the Church forward.
