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.

Future papal funerals will focus less on elaborate rituals and stately proceedings and more on prayer, reflection, and the Gospel message, according to the new rules that the Vatican's Liturgical Office quietly announced. What Has Changed? Among the key revisions:

A single, straightforward wooden casket, which serves as a symbol of humility and the pope's identification with the poor, has taken the place of the traditional triple coffin. There will be fewer speeches and dignitary protocols during the shorter and less formal procession. The practice of displaying the body for several days in full regalia has been simplified, with less emphasis placed on spectacles and simpler vestments. Burial arrangements will remain within the Vatican, but with more modest ceremonies.

Additionally, Francis has requested that future popes, including himself, not be embalmed or preserved in elaborate ways. “Let us return to the dust from which we came — without gold, without grandeur,” he was quoted as saying during a private meeting with Vatican officials.

Why It Matters — Even If Few Notice

To many Catholics, the papal funeral is not just a ceremonial event — it’s a spiritual marker of continuity, reverence, and legacy. For the global audience, however, most will only witness televised snapshots: a solemn Mass, cardinals in red, and black-clad mourners.

Because the reforms won't become apparent until the next pope takes office, Francis' changes probably won't make headlines outside of religious or Vatican circles. However, the shift is profound to insiders. It reflects a deeper transformation in how the Church wants to present itself: not as a monarchy of robes and rituals, but as a shepherd for the poor, a servant to the faithful, and a beacon of spiritual humility.

A Legacy of Minimalism Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has chosen the path of simplicity — from living in a guesthouse instead of the Apostolic Palace to driving a modest car and washing the feet of prisoners. Because they are simply a continuation of that philosophy, these modifications to funeral rites are not surprising. In the end, when the time comes, it may not be the pageantry that defines the farewell of a pope — but the tone he set during his life.

And that, quietly, might be the most powerful message of all.