Pope Francis’ coffin: A simpler approach his final humble gesture

When the last Pope, Benedict XVI, died in 2022, he was buried like so many popes before – in three coffins, one inside of the other. Pope Francis chose a simpler path.

Like his predecessors, Pope Francis’ face will be covered by a plain white cloth before he is laid in his final resting place.

But his coffin, as with the wider send-off, will be a streamlined version of a traditional papal farewell.

When the last Pope, Benedict XVI, died in 2022, he was buried like so many popes before – in three coffins, one inside of the other.

His successor, who planned the finer details of his own funeral, adopted a simpler approach.

For him, one coffin – wooden and zinc-lined – better denoted his humble bearings.

His coffin is expected to contain pontificate documents and a bag of coins, which nods to the tradition of three bags – of gold, silver and copper coins – being laid to rest with the pope.

Until now, the papal coffin comprised a cypress coffin inside a lead coffin inside an outer coffin of precious elm wood.

The late Pope Francis as he lies in state in a coffin at St Peter's Basilica in The Vatican. Picture: AFP

The final coffin would be nailed shut with golden nails.

Another ancient ritual – the destruction of the pope’s ring on his death – is assumed to have taken place after Francis’ death on April 21.

The pope’s “Fisherman’s Ring” long ago served as the papal seal.

Francis’ ring, more modest than those of his predecessors, would have been incised with a cross to signify the end of his papacy.

Late last year, Francis approved a simpler “Funeral Rites of the Roman Pontiff”, which considers every detail of a pope’s death.

The book had not been reviewed since 1998.

His coffin for viewing this week at St Peter’s Basilica was not raised, as was long customary, and Francis, the 266th pope, chose not to be buried alongside 91 other popes underneath St Peter’s.

HOW POPE FRANCIS SPENT HIS FINAL WEEK

For a man who had been critically ill in hospital with bronchitis and double pneumonia just a month ago, an ailing Pope Francis was more active than expected during his final week on earth.

After 38 days in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital (he was released on March 23), Vatican doctors had advised Francis he needed to take two months’ rest to recover and recuperate but the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics kept working right to the end despite his ill health.

Indeed, the 266th head of the Catholic Church spent his final days celebrating Holy Week, the seven days leading up to Easter Sunday before his death on Easter Monday at 7.35am (3.35pm AEST) at the age of 88.

Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, just over a week ago. Picture: AP

The Pope opened Holy Week celebrations on April 13 with an in-person appearance in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square.

Francis, who was not aided by supplemental oxygen as he had been since leaving hospital, wished more than 20,000 worshippers a “Happy Palm Sunday, Happy Holy Week.”

Pope Francis greets the crowd at the end of the mass for Palm Sunday at St Peter's square in the Vatican. Picture: AFP

On Holy Thursday, the Pope visited Rome’s Regina Coeli prison, where he met with 70 inmates where his health complications stopped him from washing the feet of 12 people — a re-enactment of Jesus Christ’s acts to his apostles before his crucifixion.

He told the inmates he wanted to be with them, however, and “do what Jesus did on Holy Thursday”.

On Good Friday, Francis did not attend an annual procession at Rome’s Colosseum, and given his delicate health, it had not been known whether he would be present for mass on Easter Sunday, or if so, in what capacity, ultimately leaving Cardinal Angelo Comastri to oversee mass.

The Pope traditionally delivers his “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”) benediction from the balcony that overlooks St Peter’s Square, but ultimately, he was unable to deliver it, leaving the job instead to Archbishop Diego Ravelli.

Pope Francis, left, sips water as he appears at the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica to bestow the Urbi et Orbi blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri. Picture: AP

But to the delight of the tens of thousands of worshippers who packed the square to see their leader, the Pope did make a surprise appearance to bless followers.

“Happy Easter,” he said in a weak voice from his wheelchair at the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, to the cheers of tens of the faithful and others in the flower-filled square.

His address condemned “worrisome” anti-Semitism, and the “deplorable” situation in Gaza.

Francis appealed for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as Congo and Myanmar. He also advocated for mercy on the “vulnerable, the marginalised, and migrants”.

US Vice President JD Vance met with the Pope less than 24 hours before the pontiff’s death. Picture: AFP

“I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear, which only leads to isolation from others, but rather to use the resources available to help the needy, to fight hunger, and to encourage initiatives that promote development,” the speech read.

The wheelchair-bound Francis oversaw a Latin blessing from the basilica’s loggia balcony before taking a turn around the piazza in his Popemobile.

People lined the aisles to get close to him, many holding aloft national flags and shouting “viva il papa!” (long live the pope!), and “bravo”. Some offered babies for him to bless.

King Charles and Queen Camilla spent a “very significant and special” time with the ailing pontiff on April 9 after another meeting was cancelled. Picture: AFP

Surprisingly, just prior to his appearance in St Peter’s Square, Francis met with US Vice President JD Vance, a late convert to Catholicism in 2019. The Vatican said the meeting lasted just a few minutes and happened purely so the two could exchange Easter greetings. The 88-year-old pope also gave Mr Vance rosaries, a Vatican tie and three chocolate Easter eggs, one for each of his children.

“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill,” Mr Vance wrote on X. “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. May God rest his soul.”

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and his family also had a brief meeting with Francis on Sunday.

“It was a brief moment, but profoundly touching, a meeting of kindness, smiles, and blessing,” Mr Plenkovic said in a statement on Monday local time.

Pope Francis on the balcony of St. Peter's basilica less than 24 hours before his death. Picture: AFP

King Charles who with Queen Camilla had a secret meeting with the pope on April 9 – the royal couple’s 20th wedding anniversary – in Rome after a visit to the Vatican earlier this month was cancelled because of Francis’ declining health, also shared his thanks on getting to spend a “very significant and special” time with the ailing pontiff in his last weeks.

“The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month,” Charles said.

Less than 24 hours before he died, the pope, who had an active social media presence, made a final post on X.

Devotees attend a Rosary in homage to Pope Francis at the Vatican. Picture: AFP

“Christ is risen! This proclamation contains the entire meaning of our existence, which is not made for death but for life. #Easter,” the pope wrote on his Spanish-language account, on Easter Sunday.

The tweet was posted on Easter Sunday, less than 24 hours before Pope Francis’ death. It was one of several messages the Pope shared on his official X accounts during the holiday, emphasising themes of resurrection, peace, and renewal.

But for those close to him, it was no surprise that Francis continued working right up until the end.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official who was close to Francis, told Reuters: “Absolute rest isn’t healing,” adding: “He balanced convalescence with his being the Bishop of Rome.”

Cardinal Czerny said the pope was devoted to his work leading the world’s Catholics.

Citing an instruction Francis often gave Catholic bishops to make sure they were close to their flocks, Cardinal Czerny said: “He died with the smell of the sheep on him.”