For many years, the Catholic Church followed a unique burial tradition for popes. When a pope dies, he is laid to rest in three separate coffins, each layer carrying profound spiritual and symbolic meaning. These three coffins tell a story: of a man who lived in service, bore great responsibility, and left a lasting spiritual legacy.
The Significance of the Three Coffins
1. The Cypress Coffin (Innermost Layer): This simple wooden coffin holds the pope’s body and reflects deep humility. Cypress wood, associated with mourning and eternal life, reminds the world that even the pope, as Christ’s vicar on Earth, is still mortal. Inside, tradition includes placing three pouches of coins—gold, silver, and copper—each holding a number of coins equal to the years of his papacy. A silk veil is placed over his face, and a metal tube with a written biography (called a rogito) is also sealed inside. Silk ribbons bind the coffin shut before it’s placed into the next one.
2. The Lead (or Zinc) Coffin (Middle Layer): This layer is both protective and symbolic. Soldered to be airtight, it guards the pope’s body from decay and prevents any tampering. It also preserves key artifacts, including his broken papal seal. The exterior is often inscribed with his name, dates of his reign, and sometimes a skull and crossbones—serving as a “memento mori,” a stark reminder of death and the transient nature of power. This coffin represents the enduring weight of his spiritual authority.
3. The Elm or Oak Coffin (Outermost Layer): Strong and dignified, this final layer stands for the majesty and permanence of the papal office. Nailed shut with golden nails and adorned with the papal coat of arms and a golden cross, it symbolizes the public face of the papacy. Before sealing, a parchment summarizing the pope’s key achievements is placed within, preserving his memory for future generations.
Why Pope Francis Changed The Tradition
In 2024, Pope Francis made significant changes to the funeral rites for popes, moving away from traditional practices and focusing more on simplicity and humility. These adjustments were included in the updated Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the official guide for papal funerals.
One of the most striking changes is the abandonment of the three-coffin burial system, which had been a part of the ritual for centuries. Pope Francis’s directive called for a single wooden coffin, lined with zinc, maintaining the necessary preservation but without the extravagance of multiple layers.
Another modification involves the pope’s body during the lying in state. Unlike previous ceremonies where the body was displayed on an elevated platform, the new practice has the pope’s body resting in an open coffin, facing the congregation, and accompanied only by the Paschal candle. This arrangement is intended to highlight the pope’s role as a servant and disciple of Christ, not as a ruler with worldly power.
Pope Francis Burial Wishes
Pope Francis requested to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, a shift from the customary burial place under St. Peter’s Basilica. This reflects his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary and further emphasizes his focus on spiritual humility.
These reforms align with Pope Francis’s broader vision of simplifying Church practices, putting the spiritual aspects of the papacy above its ceremonial traditions. His decision reflects a desire for the papacy to be more accessible and humble, focusing on service rather than grandeur.
