Pope Francis was revered for his humble lifestyle and uncomplicated way of life, yet his death set off a sequence of old and seemingly inexplicable rites.
Who was among the first? His flat was sealed very quickly, and the reason for this is more intriguing than you might assume.
Following Pope Francis’ death on Monday, Catholics around the world are mourning their spiritual leader.
The Pope, who was 88 years old, died of a stroke.
When a pope dies, a rigorous and tradition-bound process begins within the Vatican. For example, on Tuesday, the Vatican revealed the first striking photographs of Pope Francis in rest, providing a solemn peek into the hallowed rites commemorating his life.
In the photographs, his open casket is encircled by ceremonial guards as Vatican officials and members of his family bid their final goodbyes. Francis is wearing in scarlet vestments, which symbolise martyrdom and Christ’s blood, and holds a rosary in his folded hands.
A silk cord was tied over the door.
Senior Vatican authorities sealed and locked Pope Francis’ personal house on Monday, following his death.
The sealing occurs shortly following the Pope’s death or resignation. It is carried out in the presence of the Vice-Camerlengo, who is now Archbishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari. A silk cord is tied over the entrance and sealed with wax, keeping the room safe. The unbroken seal proves that no one has entered.
The room will only be reopened and the seal broken after the conclave is concluded and a new Pope is elected.
According to CBS News, Pope Francis declined to live in the Apostolic Palace’s usual papal apartments. Instead, he stayed in a modest room at Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican’s guesthouse with a dorm-style setting.
“He lives in a small room,” claimed Lucas Schaerer, a Vatican insider who met Pope Francis in 2008, in a 2015 People interview.
Why was the Pope’s flat sealed?
So, why was the Pope’s home sealed up at all? While the practice may appear to be purely symbolic—particularly because Pope Francis decided to live in the humble quarters of the church guesthouse, Casa Santa Marta, rather than the customary Apostolic Palace—it also has a functional purpose.
According to Sky News, the practice started as a measure to “prevent looting” after a pope died.
But, more crucially, it helps to protect against tampering with papal documents or the unauthorised publication of materials that can only be handled by the future pope. To assure this, the sealing is performed by a Roman Curia official known as the Camerlengo, or Chamberlain, who is now Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life.
Another ritual
As the Catholic Church prepares for funerals and commemoration rites, attention has turned to Pope Francis’ iconic Fisherman’s Ring.
The ring is estimated to be worth around $520,000, yet its true importance extends far beyond its monetary value. The signet ring symbolises the pope’s authority inside the Catholic Church.
Traditionally, the ring is given to a newly elected pope and then destroyed after they die. This liturgy is performed by the camerlengo (Cardinal), in this case Cardinal Kevin Farrell. The destruction ensures that the ring cannot be used after the pope’s death, as it was initially created as a seal for the pope’s personal letters, but it now has ceremonial significance.
The ring and its accompanying bulla (papal seal) are destroyed in front of the College of Cardinals shortly after official confirmation of the pope’s death, right before the papal conclave begins to elect a new pope.
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis’ funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square.
Following the public service, his body will be taken to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome’s Esquilino neighbourhood, where Francis once stated he wanted to be laid to rest.
