Sajedur Rahman

Pope Francis Simplified Papal Funerals. Not Everyone Will Notice.

Papal funerals were simplified by Pope Francis. Not Everyone Will Notice Vatican City — April 2025 Pope Francis has simplified the rites and traditions associated with papal funerals with new guidelines, a quiet but powerful move. The modifications, which are meant to emphasize humility and the fundamental Christian values of simplicity and service, may go unnoticed by many outside the Vatican. However, they reflect Francis' broader papacy themes. A departure from long-standing customs Papal funerals have traditionally been elaborate affairs filled with pageantry, ritual, and pomp that are rooted in centuries of tradition. Each instance has been rich in symbolism, from the Fisherman's Ring's riteful destruction to the triple coffin made of cypress, lead, and oak. But Pope Francis, known for rejecting excessive ceremony since his election in 2013, has pared much of that back.